J&K High Court judge virtually presides over court proceedings from remote town of Gurez

In a historic first, Justice Sanjeev Kumar, the senior-most judge of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court, presided over Division Bench proceedings from the remote border town of Gurez via virtual mode. This landmark initiative marks a significant step in enabling access to justice by overcoming geographical barriers through technology.

Gurez, a remote tourism destination located in Bandipora district of North Kashmir, is a cut-off area traditionally disconnected from regular judicial infrastructure. The virtual hearing was conducted as part of Justice Kumar’s official visit as Executive Chairman of the J&K Legal Services Authority, focusing on the child-friendly scheme of NALSA-2024.

The Division Bench, comprising Justices Sanjeev Kumar and Sanjay Parihar, heard cases with Justice Kumar joining from Gurez and Justice Parihar from the Jammu wing of the High Court. Lawyers participated remotely from both the Jammu and Srinagar wings via video conferencing.

In total, 50 cases—45 from Jammu wing and 5 from Kashmir wing—were heard through the digital platform, exhausting the entire cause list for the day. The move has been widely appreciated by local stakeholders as it establishes virtual court access from this isolated tehsil.

Justice Kumar emphasised the importance of such technology for lawyers, litigants, and defense personnel residing in Gurez. He directed the Central Project Coordinator of the e-Courts project for J&K and Ladakh to ensure seamless e-filing services, real-time case updates, and timely cause list displays to prevent any deprivation of access.

To further enhance digital access, Justice Kumar ordered the immediate installation of an e-Court kiosk at the Munsiff Court in Gurez. This facility will provide local residents with access to a range of e-Court services.

As Chairman of the High Court Information Technology Committee, Justice Kumar called for strengthening the existing IT infrastructure to integrate physical and digital court services, improving ease of access and judicial efficiency.

“This initiative bridges geographical and climatic barriers, enabling lawyers to file cases and track their progress from anywhere in India, while keeping the people of Gurez connected to courts nationwide,” the official statement said.