Kargil lawyers, political leadership stage joint protest, demand IIOJK High Court bench
Srinagar: The demand for establishment of a bench of occupied Jammu and Kashmir High Court in Kargil, Ladakh, gained momentum as the Bar Association Kargil, backed by political leadership and civil society, staged a forceful protest march, warning of a hunger strike if the demand is not met within a week.
The protest was led by Bar Association Kargil and joined by Member of Parliament Ladakh Haji Hanifa Jan, councillors, advocates and local residents. The protesters marched from TFC Kargil to Lal Chowk, raising slogans demanding justice at doorstep.
Addressing a joint press briefing before the march, the speakers said the recent approval by the Indian government of a High Court bench only at Leh was discriminatory and would cause grave hardship to the people of Kargil. They said litigants, advocates and witnesses from Kargil and adjoining remote areas are forced to undertake long, expensive and arduous journeys to Leh, leading to delays in justice and severe financial burden.
MP Ladakh Haji Hanifa Jan said people of Kargil would suffer immensely if the bench is established only at Leh, while CEC Kargil Dr Jaffer Akhone extended full support to the Bar’s legitimate demand.
The Bar Association gave the administration one week to take concrete steps for establishment of a occupied Jammu and Kashmir High Court bench at Kargil as well, warning that failure to do so would compel them to launch an indefinite hunger strike as part of their democratic struggle.
The leaders including Sajjad Kargili, Syed Ali Moosavi and Advocate Reyaz Ahmed resolved to pursue the demand through sustained and coordinated democratic efforts till justice is made accessible, affordable and timely for the people of Kargil.
