Jammu: In a significant development towards strengthening judicial infrastructure, the Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh has agreed to contribute ₹20 crore towards the construction of the new High Court Complex at Raika, Jammu. The complex, which will serve both Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh UTs, is a mega project estimated to cost over ₹921 crore.
This decision follows a formal request made by the J&K Government via Letter No. Law-Plg/164/2022-12 dated November 26, 2024, asking Ladakh UT to share the financial responsibility of the project. The rationale was that, since the High Court serves both UTs, Ladakh should contribute its due share, especially as J&K is already funding the construction of a new High Court Complex at Bemina, Srinagar.
Sources in the Law and Justice Department of Ladakh confirmed that the matter was discussed with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and it was decided that Ladakh will contribute approximately ₹20 crore, calculated based on the region’s population and the volume of litigation originating from the UT.
Chief Secretary of Ladakh, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, confirmed the commitment, stating, “We are committed to pay our share based on the population ratio.”
Despite Ladakh’s contribution, the J&K Government still faces the challenge of arranging over ₹900 crore to realize the project. The total cost, initially estimated at ₹921.79 crore by the Secretary Technical, Public Works Department (PWD), J&K, could increase further due to potential delays and rising construction costs.
The foundation stone of the High Court Complex was laid on June 28, 2023, by then Chief Justice of India Dr. Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, in the presence of the Lieutenant Governors of both J&K and Ladakh and Judges from the Supreme Court and J&K and Ladakh High Court.
The need for a new complex was prompted by the deteriorating condition of the existing High Court campus in Jammu, which lacks modern facilities. The new facility is envisioned as a state-of-the-art judicial complex with multidisciplinary amenities to support an efficient judicial ecosystem.
Meanwhile, the Ladakh administration is also in the process of amending over 22 laws that were inherited from the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. These amendments, under the purview of the J&K Reorganization Act, are being tailored to meet the unique socio-environmental conditions of the cold desert region.
Officials said that the process, which is being carried out with the consent of the MHA, involves detailed deliberations among departments. Once finalized, the proposed amendments will be sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for approval and issuance of official notifications.
