Executive Summary:
This document outlines the Indian government's response to concerns regarding court infrastructure and judicial vacancies in Ladakh. It details ongoing efforts under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) to develop judicial infrastructure, addresses judicial officer recruitment, and highlights initiatives like Lok Adalats and legal aid services to ensure access to justice in remote areas. The document also presents data on cases settled through Lok Adalats and beneficiaries of legal aid programs in Ladakh over the past three years.
Key Points / Main Content:
Judicial Infrastructure Development:
* The Government of India implements a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) since 1993-94 for developing judicial infrastructure in States/UTs, including court halls, residential units, and digital computer rooms.
* Ladakh has 10 subdivisions, with court infrastructure available in 5: Zanskar, Sankoo, Khaltsi, Nubra, and Drass.
* Under the CSS, Rs. 8.33 Crore was released to UT of Ladakh in the last five years, and Rs. 2.00 crore is earmarked for FY 2025-26.
* Ladakh currently has 11 court halls and 4 residential units, with 4 court halls and 2 residential units under construction.
Judicial Officer Recruitment:
* Appointment and recruitment of judicial officers are managed by the respective State Government/UT Administration in consultation with their High Courts, as per constitutional provisions.
* The Supreme Court has stipulated timelines for the recruitment of judges in district and subordinate courts, to be followed by States/UTs and High Courts.
* The sanctioned strength of judicial officers in Ladakh is 17, with 10 currently working/posted.
Access to Justice Initiatives:
* Lok Adalats are organized nationwide under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, with National Lok Adalats scheduled by NALSA and State Lok Adalats by State Legal Services Authorities.
* Ladakh Legal Services Authority (LLSA) operates Legal Aid Clinics, including one in Tangtse, staffed with Para-Legal Volunteers (PLVs).
* Special Mobile Magistrate Courts have been established in Leh and Kargil districts.
* NALSA introduced the toll-free legal aid helpline number 15100 in August 2024.
Lok Adalat Statistics:
* National Lok Adalat: 1444 cases settled in 2022, 1781 in 2023, and 2150 in 2024.
* State Lok Adalat: 240 cases settled in 2022-23, 0 in 2023-24, and 0 in 2024-25.
Legal Aid Beneficiaries:
* 1540 individuals in Ladakh benefited from legal aid and advice through LLSA activities in the last three years, including 477 women and 24 children.
Impact Analysis:
Ladakh Administration:
*Impact: Responsible for providing information on existing infrastructure, establishing Special Mobile Magistrate Courts, and collaborating with LLSA on legal aid clinics.
*Action Required: Continue to work with the High Court to address judicial vacancies, utilize CSS funds to improve court infrastructure, and support the operation of legal aid services.
High Courts:
*Impact: Involved in the rule-making process concerning the appointment and recruitment of judicial officers.
*Action Required: Follow the timelines stipulated by the Supreme Court for the recruitment of judges and collaborate with the Ladakh Administration to fill judicial vacancies.
National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and State Legal Services Authorities:
*Impact: Responsible for organizing Lok Adalats and providing legal aid services.
*Action Required: Continue to organize National and State Lok Adalats, maintain and expand legal aid clinics, and promote awareness of the toll-free legal aid helpline.
Citizens of Ladakh:
*Impact: Benefit from improved court infrastructure, increased access to justice through Lok Adalats and mobile courts, and availability of legal aid services.
*Action Required: Utilize available legal aid services, participate in Lok Adalats for dispute resolution, and engage with Legal Aid Clinics for legal support.
Key Entities Referenced
Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987: The Act under which Lok Adalats are organized, as mentioned in the policy document.
National Lok Adalat: A form of alternative dispute resolution mechanism, organized across the country as per the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
Leh district: One of the districts in Ladakh where Legal Aid Clinics have been established.
Kargil district: One of the districts in Ladakh where Special Mobile Magistrate Courts have been established.
Article 309: Article of the Constitution of India, which gives power to state government to make rules and regulations regarding the appointment and recruitment of judicial officers.
Ladakh: Union Territory of India, focus area of the policy regarding court infrastructure and legal services.
NALSA: National Legal Services Authority, an organization responsible for providing legal services, and framework for legal aid services in Ladakh.
CSS: Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Development of Judicial Infrastructure, a scheme implemented by the Government of India to augment resources of States/UTs for construction of court infrastructure.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2250
TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 01st AUGUST, 2025
Court Infrastructure in Ladakh
2250. Shri Mohmad Haneefa:
Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the lack of district court infrastructure in remote sub-
divisions of Ladakh;
(b) if so, the steps being taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to upgrade legal
Infrastructure in the UT of Ladakh;
(c) whether it is a fact that more than 30 per cent of the sanctioned judicial posts are lying vacant,
leading to an acute shortage of full-time judicial officers in remote areas of Ladakh;
(d) if so, the details thereof and the steps being taken by the Government to fill up these vacancies
in a time-bound manner;
(e) whether the Government is considering to set up mobile courts or regular Lok Adalats in far-
flung areas of Ladakh to ensure timely access to justice; and
(f) whether legal aid services, women helpline desks and child welfare courts have been adequately
institutionalised under the NALSA framework in Ladakh?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND
JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS
(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)
(a) & (b): The Government of India has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
(CSS) for Development of Judicial Infrastructure since 1993-94 to augment the resources of the
States/UTs. The CSS covers construction of court halls, residential units, lawyers’ halls, toilet
complexes and digital computer rooms.
As per information provided by the Ladakh Administration, there are 10 sub-divisions in the
UT of Ladakh. Court infrastructure is available in 05 sub-divisions namely Zanskar, Sankoo,
Khaltsi, Nubra and Drass. A sum of Rs.8.33 Crore has been released to UT of Ladakh under the
CSS during last five years. In addition, for the financial year 2025-26, a sum of Rs. 2.00 crore has
been earmarked under the CSS for UTs without legislature. The sanctioned and working/posted
strengths of judicial officers in Ladakh are 17 and 10 respectively. Presently 11 court halls and 04
1residential units are available in Ladakh. However, 04 court halls and 02 residential units are under
construction.
(c) & (d): As per the Constitutional mandate, in exercise of powers conferred under proviso to
Article 309 read with Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution, the respective State Government /
UT Administration, in consultation with their respective High Courts, frame the rules and
regulations regarding the appointment and recruitment of judicial officers. The Supreme Court, vide
order passed in January, 2007 in the Malik Mazhar Sultan case has, inter-alia, stipulated certain
timelines which are to be followed by the States/UTs and the respective High Courts for recruitment
of judges in the district and subordinate courts.
(e) & (f): Lok Adalat is organised across the country as per the provisions of the Legal Services
Authorities Act, 1987 read with National Legal Services Authority (Lok Adalats) Regulations, 2009
for the subject matters as prescribed under the said Act and Regulations in the Courts as defined
under Section 2 (1) (aaa) of the said Act. Every year, NALSA issues calendar for organising National
Lok Adalats. The State Lok Adalats are organised by State Legal Services Authorities as per the
local conditions and needs. Four National Lok Adalats are held in one calendar year. The details of
the number of cases settled by National Lok Adalat and State Lok Adalat in Ladakh during the last
three years are as under:
(i) National Lok Adalat:
Year Pre-litigative cases Pending cases Total cases
2022 416 1028 1444
2023 383 1398 1781
2024 523 1627 2150
Total 1322 4053 5375
(ii) State Lok Adalat:
Year Pre-litigative cases Pending cases Total cases
2022-23 7 233 240
2023-24 0 0 0
2024-25 0 0 0
Total 7 233 240
The National Legal Services Authority (Legal Services Clinics) Regulations, 2011 provide
for eligibility criteria for free legal services in the legal services clinic, selection of lawyers for
manning the clinics, functions of para-legal volunteers in the clinic, etc. In September 2023, Legal
Aid Clinic in Tangtse, a remote village in Leh district was established. This clinic is part of the
Ladakh Legal Services Authority (LLSA) framework and staffed with Para-Legal Volunteers
(PLVs) to provide legal support locally. The LLSA has established multiple Legal Aid Clinics across
2Leh and Kargil districts. The Ladakh Administration has informed that they have established Special
Mobile Magistrate Courts in both the districts of Leh and Kargil for timely access to justice. In
addition, NALSA introduced the National toll free legal aid helpline number 15100 on IVRS
technology in August 2024, which connects Indian Citizens (including Ladakh) with legal advice
and referral services. The details of persons benefited in Ladakh through Legal aid and advice under
various activities/programmes undertaken by LLSA during the last three years are as under:
Year Women Children Others Total
2022-23 180 12 519 711
2023-24 105 3 397 505
2024-25 192 9 123 324
Total 477 24 1039 1540
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