Kargil, October 5/VOL News Desk/ The Bar Association Kargil today organised a major protest rally from TFC Biamathang to Lal Chowk, Kargil, demanding the establishment of a High Court Bench in Kargil. The rally witnessed participation from lawyers, as well as representatives of various religious, social and political organisations and a large number of people.

The participants carried placards highlighting the demands of the Bar Association and raised slogans in support of the cause. The rally culminated in a public gathering at Lal Chowk, where public representatives and religious and political leaders addressed the gathering and called for the immediate establishment of a High Court Bench in Kargil.

Member of Parliament Haji Mohammad Hanifa Jan extended his full support to the demands of the Bar Association and urged the UT Administration and the Chief Justice of the High Court to establish a High Court Bench in Kargil without further delay. He also called upon the people of Kargil to remain united and raise their voice against injustices faced by the region.

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CEC LAHDC Kargil Dr Mohammad Jaffer Akhoon also extended support to the Bar Association and referred to discussions held with the Union Law Minister. He said that neither the Central Government nor the UT Administration appeared willing to seriously consider the demand, adding that the demand had already been rejected. He stressed the need for a united struggle for the legitimate rights of the people of Kargil.

Representing the Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust, Hujjat-ul-Islam wal-Muslimeen Aga Syed Ali Mousavi appealed to the people of Kargil and religious and political organisations to unite in the larger interest of Kargil and Ladakh. He said that history always honours those who struggle and make sacrifices for their people and nation, while those who ignore collective interests in pursuit of personal gains and worldly interests are also remembered by history. Citing the example of the Iranian people, he urged the public to continue their struggle for legitimate demands with unity, courage and determination.

Representing the Jamiat Ulama Ithna Ashariya Kargil, political leader Sajjad Hussain Kargili questioned why High Court Benches and major institutions such as AIIMS and engineering colleges could be established separately for Jammu and Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir, but similar judicial facilities could not be established in Leh and Kargil, the two major regions of Ladakh.

He appealed to the people of Kargil to demonstrate unity and said there was a need to set aside hypocrisy and expediency and openly stand in support of public demands. Sajjad Hussain Kargili warned the government that if a High Court Bench was not established in Kargil within one week, a large-scale protest movement would be launched.

President of the Bar Association Kargil, Advocate Riyaz, said that lawyers had been protesting for the past 20 days, but the government continued to ignore the important issue concerning Kargil. He demanded that the Bar Association’s demands be accepted within one week, failing which the protest movement would be intensified and expanded.

The participants asserted that the demand for a High Court Bench in Kargil was not merely an issue concerning lawyers, but was linked to the larger public interest, easier and timely access to justice, and a balanced administrative and judicial system in the region.