Access to justice

In the news

• CJI inaugurates Ladakh Bench of the J&K and Ladakh High Court in Leh 19 October 2026 · The Hindu

  For seven years Ladakh shared a High Court it could reach only across the Himalayas. What changes now?

• Policing report: one in eight faced cybercrime, poor victims paid more bribes for redress 30 September 2026 · The Hindu

  If the rich are scammed more often, why do the poor end up paying bribes to get their money back?

• Justice Nagarathna: family disputes need mediation and adjudication working together 27 September 2026 · The Hindu

  Can mediation clear family court backlogs without weakening the rights of the weaker party?

Key facts

• The Ladakh Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh was inaugurated at Leh on 18 October 2026; hearings begin on 21 October. (19 October 2026)
• The legal basis is a presidential Regulation of 27 August 2026 under Article 240, read with Section 58(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. (19 October 2026)
• SPIR 2026, by Common Cause and Lokniti-CSDS, surveyed 8,306 people in 16 States and focused on cybercrime victims. (30 September 2026)
• 13% of respondents had faced cybercrime in the past two to three years; 54% of these victims suffered financial fraud. (30 September 2026)
• The Family Courts Act, 1984 provides for family courts and, under Section 9, requires them to first make efforts to bring about a settlement between the parties. (27 September 2026)
• The Mediation Act, 2023 gives mediation a statutory framework and provides for pre-litigation mediation under Section 5. (27 September 2026)

Previous-year questions

1. 2026 · GS3 · 10 marks Ladakh is strategically located between China and Pakistan. As a measure to win hearts and minds of locals, discuss the Border Area Development Programmes (BADP) by the Central Government and civic actions by the Army…
2. 2026 · GS3 · 10 marks Explain how fake news and disinformation pose threat to Internal Security and Public Order in Indian context? In this regard, discuss salient features of amendments in respect of Information Technology (Intermediatory…
3. 2024 · GS2 · 10 marks Explain and distinguish between Lok Adalats and Arbitration Tribunals. Whether they entertain civil as well as criminal cases?
4. 2021 · GS3 · 10 marks Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both at national and international levels.
5. 2018 · GS3 · 15 marks Data security has assumed significant importance in the digitized world due to rising cyber-crimes. The Justice B. N. Srikrishna Committee Report addresses issues related to data security. What, in your view, are the…
6. 2018 · GS2 · 15 marks How far do you agree with the view that tribunals curtail the jurisdiction of ordinary courts? In view of the above, discuss the constitutional validity and competency of the tribunals in India.
7. 2020 · Prelims In India, Legal Services Authorities provide free legal services to which of the following type of citizens? 1. Person with an annual income of less than Rs 1,00,000 2. Transgender with an annual income of less than Rs…