Kargil, Oct 5 (KNS): The Bar Association Kargil (BAK), along with councillors of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Kargil, Member of Parliament Ladakh Haji Hanifa Jan, Chief Executive Councillor Kargil Dr Jaffer Akhone, members of the legal fraternity and local residents, staged a protest on Monday demanding establishment of a Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court bench in Kargil.

Addressing a joint press briefing before the protest, the participants reiterated the pending demand of the Bar Association Kargil and said a functional High Court bench at Kargil was necessary to ensure accessible, affordable and timely justice for people of Kargil and adjoining areas.

The speakers said the absence of a High Court bench in Kargil forces litigants, advocates and witnesses to undertake long and costly journeys, causing hardship, delays in judicial proceedings and additional financial burdens.

Following the briefing, the participants took out a protest march from TFC Kargil to Lal Chowk, raising slogans in support of the demand and calling for early establishment of the High Court bench.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

During the protest, the Bar Association Kargil gave the government one week to address the issue and take concrete steps towards fulfilling the demand.

The association warned that if the matter was not resolved within the stipulated period, it would launch a hunger strike as part of its continued democratic protest.

The protest was also addressed by MP Ladakh Haji Hanifa Jan, CEC Kargil Dr Jaffer Akhone, Sajjad Kargili, Syed Ali Moosavi and Advocate Reyaz Ahmed, who supported the demand and called for an early resolution in the larger interest of the people of Kargil and Ladakh.

The participants resolved to pursue the matter through sustained and coordinated democratic efforts until the demand is addressed.

The Bar Association Kargil thanked public representatives, LAHDC councillors, members of the legal fraternity and citizens for participating in and supporting the protest, and reiterated its commitment to continue the peaceful campaign for establishment and proper functioning of a High Court bench at Kargil.(KNS)