Kargil stages joint protest for regular HC Bench, seeks equitable access to justice

Bar Association, political representatives and civil society march through town, seek early decision on long-pending demand

KARGIL: Lawyers, political representatives, civil society organisations and local residents held a joint protest in Kargil demanding the establishment of a regular High Court Bench at Kargil, citing the need for easier and more equitable access to justice for people in the region.

The protest was organised by the Bar Association Kargil in association with political representatives and civil society groups. The stakeholders first held a joint press conference, where speakers underlined the difficulties faced by residents in accessing judicial services and urged the authorities to take an early decision on the long-pending demand.

Following the press conference, lawyers, political representatives, civil society members and a large number of residents took part in a peaceful protest march from the Tourist Facilitation Centre (TFC) to Lal Chowk.

At Lal Chowk, speakers addressed the gathering and reiterated that a regular High Court Bench in Kargil was necessary to make judicial services more accessible to residents of the district and adjoining areas.

The protesters argued that people should not have to undertake difficult and costly journeys to access judicial services, particularly in view of the region’s terrain and geographical distance.

Legal Adviser of Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance, Haji Ghulam Mustafa said, “You can see the large number of people here – everyone in Kargil, be it religious people, or political people from Congress, BJP or AAP all of them are here…We welcome the announcement of High Court Bench for Ladakh. But the LG announced that the Bench would be in Leh.

This is an injustice because there are so many cases in Kargil…Right to justice is as basic as the right to breathe fresh air, right to food,  right to live with dignity. So, we have this basic dignity. We hope that we get a Bench in Kargil too so that people need not travel much to Leh.”

Speakers called upon the authorities to resolve the issue at the earliest, stressing that the demand was linked to equitable access to justice rather than any political consideration. The participation of lawyers, political representatives, civil society groups and residents from different sections of society reflected broad support for the demand, organisers said.

The protest remained peaceful, with participants reiterating their call for the establishment of a regular High Court Bench at Kargil and urging the authorities to take concrete steps towards meeting the demand.