Srinagar: The J&K high Court on Wednesday directed Chief Secretary and Advisor to Lt Governor of the Union Territory Ladakh to apprise the court about steps taken for appointment of counsels.
The court passed the direction after government Advocate Rais-ud-din submitted before the court that he doesn’t know as what is the arrangement made for appearance of the counsels in respect of cases pertaining to the Union Territory, Leh on application of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019.
“With a view that the said problem is addressed and the progress of the cases is not hampered on this count, the Chief Secretary /Advisor of the union Territory Ladakh take steps for appointment of counsels who would conduct cases before this court,” the court ordered.
He submitted that in terms of the scheme of the Act, all affairs of the Union Territory Ladakh are now regulated under the control of Lieutenant Governor with the aid and advice of the Advisors.
The counsel stated that in terms of section 3 of the Act, the Union Territory of Ladakh has come into being and Kargil and Leh districts cease to form part of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
It was told to the court that the other aspect of the matter is that after the application of the Act, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir is maintained as the ‘Common High Court’ for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and Union Territory of Ladakh in terms of section 75 of the Act.
The court after hearing the counsel noted that there is difficulty faced by this court in a number of cases.
The court will hear the matter on 3 December, 2019.

NUSRAT SIDIQ