High Court of J&K and Ladakh Revises Sitting Locations of Additional District and Sessions Judges
Jammu, April 8, 2025:
In a significant move aimed at enhancing efficiency and bringing justice closer to the people, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has issued a notification revising the places of sitting for Additional District and Sessions Judges, Civil Judges (Senior Division), and Civil Judges (Junior Division) across several districts.
The notification No. 123 of 2025/RG, dated April 7, 2025, under the authority of the Registrar General, outlines the new sitting schedules as follows:
- Jammu: The 2nd Additional District & Sessions Judge will sit at Tehsil HQ R.S. Pura on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to handle cases from R.S. Pura and Bishnah.
- Bandipora: The Additional District & Sessions Judge will sit at Tehsil HQ Sumbal for the last three days of the week to hear cases from the Sumbal Sub-Division.
- Poonch: The Additional District & Sessions Judge will hold sittings from Monday to Thursday at Tehsil HQ Mendhar to address cases from the area.
- Doda: The Munsiff/Additional Special Mobile Magistrate will operate from Assar for three days in a fortnight.
- Thanamandi: The Munsiff/Additional Special Mobile Magistrate will sit at Darhal for three days weekly.
- Surankote: The Munsiff/Additional Special Mobile Magistrate will also sit at Mendhar for three days a week.
- Samba: The Munsiff/Additional Special Mobile Magistrate will conduct sittings at Ghagwal for three days in a fortnight.
- Kishtwar: The Munsiff/Additional Special Mobile Magistrate will hold court at Paddar for three days in a fortnight.
All sittings are to be held in premises identified by the respective Principal District and Sessions Judges with the approval of the High Court.
This reallocation is seen as part of ongoing efforts to decentralize judicial access and ease the burden on courts by bringing services closer to citizens in remote and sub-divisional areas.
