Ladakh devises mechanism for speedy disposal of court cases

Expressing concern over the piling up of pending legal cases and inordinate delay in filing replies leading to unfavorable judgements, the UT administration of Ladakh has decided to devise a mechanism for streamlining of the expeditious disposal of court matters in proper coordination with law officers of the UT.

The matter has also been accorded priority at the highest level with the Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor to the Union Territory of Ladakh also deciding to review the status of the pending cases with concerned secretaries and standing counsel.

Besides, the Standing Counsels or Law officers have been asked to share a department-wise list of pending or sub-judice cases with all concerned administrative secretaries for providing updates on a fortnightly basis.
An order issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) Ladakh has stated that the speedy disposal of Court business was a matter which required the earnest attention of all concerned officers.

“For expeditious disposal of the pending legal cases in the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh, all departments must ensure prompt filing of replies, timely compliance of orders for averting contempt of court and other implications for the Administration arising out of such court judgments,” it said.

It further said, “Time and again it has been brought to the notice of the administration that pending legal matters are not being attended to by the departments with utmost seriousness, leading to the piling up of cases and inordinate delay in filing replies leading to unfavorable judgments”.

The order said the departments need to put in place mechanisms for streamlining the disposal of court matters in proper coordination with the Standing Counsels/Law Officers of the Union Territory of Ladakh.

The administration said all Administrative Secretaries/Head of Departments in the Union Territory Ladakh would make a repository of all relevant documents such as a copy of the main petition, annexes, supplementary applications, replies, etc., about their departments’ cases to ensure speedy disposal of legal cases.

“They shall designate a nodal officer to tie up with the office of the Standing Counsels for regular updates and follow-up. The Law secretary shall act as a nodal point for maintaining a central repository of all cases and proper liaison between the departments and the offices of the Standing Counsels,” it further said.
The order said the Standing Counsels would have regular virtual/physical meetings with concerned Secretaries to follow up on the cases.

Pertinently, a total of 1,118 cases comprising 640 civil and 478 criminal cases are pending in various district and subordinate courts in Ladakh. In the High Court of J&K and Ladakh, as many as 43,398 cases including 36125 civil and 7273 criminal cases were pending till December 5 this year.