Loading…
President Droupadi Murmu promulgated the Union Territory of Ladakh (Sitting of Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in Ladakh) Regulation, 2026, on 27 August 2026.
The regulation was issued under Article 240 of the Constitution read with Section 58(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
Judges and Division Courts of the common High Court may now sit at a place in Ladakh chosen by the Chief Justice, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor.
The principal seat of the High Court is unchanged, and the Chief Justice may still direct that cases arising in Ladakh be heard at Srinagar or Jammu.
The Union Cabinet had approved the proposal on 20 August 2026; the regulation takes effect on a date to be notified by the Administrator of Ladakh.
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 comes into force, creating the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and of Ladakh, with a common High Court for both.
Ladakh notifies five new districts - Sham, Nubra, Changthang, Zanskar and Drass - taking its total from two to seven.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approves the proposal for High Court bench sittings in Ladakh.
President Droupadi Murmu promulgates the Regulation; it is published in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary).
The Administrator of Ladakh will notify the date on which the Regulation comes into force.
Empowers the President to make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of specified Union Territories, including Ladakh. A regulation so made has the same force and effect as an Act of Parliament applying to that territory, and may repeal or amend such an Act.
Provides the statutory basis for arrangements relating to the common High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, and was read with Article 240 to frame the 2026 Regulation.
Reorganised the former State of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories with effect from 31 October 2019 - Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature, and Ladakh without one.
Provides that there shall be a High Court for each State; Article 231 allows a common High Court for two or more States, and Parliament may extend a High Court's jurisdiction to a Union Territory.
The common High Court for the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and of Ladakh; originally established in 1928 as the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir. Its seat alternates between Srinagar and Jammu, and the Regulation leaves the principal seat unchanged.
Union Territory without a legislature, created on 31 October 2019 and administered by a Lieutenant Governor; reorganised into seven districts in April 2026.
The Union ministry that issued the Regulation and published it in the Gazette of India (Extraordinary).
GS Paper 2 > Structure and Functioning of the Judiciary; Union Territories and Constitutional Provisions
General Awareness > Indian Polity and Current Affairs
General Awareness > Static GK and Current Affairs
General Awareness > Indian Polity
Constitutional provision empowering the President to make regulations for the peace, progress and good government of specified Union Territories; such regulations have the force of an Act of Parliament.
A law made by the President for a specified Union Territory, which may repeal or amend an Act of Parliament applying to that territory.
The main location of a High Court, distinct from any bench or circuit sitting held elsewhere.
The publication used by the Government of India for urgent or special official notifications.
The Union Territory's Lieutenant Governor acting in the capacity conferred by law - here, the authority who will notify the Regulation's commencement date.