In a historic first, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant addressed Army personnel at the strategic Fire and Fury Corps in Leh, Ladakh, underlining that access to justice must extend to soldiers posted in remote and operationally sensitive regions.
Emphasising the judiciary’s commitment to defence personnel and their families, the Chief Justice remarked, “Justice must reach the soldier, because the soldier cannot always travel to the law.”
During his interaction with officers and troops, Surya Kant highlighted the need for strong institutional synergy between the judiciary and the Armed Forces. This marks the first time a sitting Chief Justice of India has addressed armed forces personnel at a base camp in Leh.
In his address, he pointed out that soldiers often grapple with legal and personal challenges while serving in far-flung, high-altitude areas, where accessing courts and legal services is difficult. Unlike civilians in urban centres, he noted, soldiers cannot leave their posts to attend litigation or resolve disputes back home.
Paying tribute to the supreme sacrifices of soldiers, he recalled the legacy of Battle of Rezang La. Reiterating that access to justice is a constitutional mandate under Article 39A, he stressed the importance of ensuring legal aid reaches those in uniform.
He highlighted key initiatives such as Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana and Nyaya Aapke Dwaar, aimed at extending legal support to Armed Forces personnel and their families, particularly in remote areas.
The Chief Justice also underscored the importance of building a trained paralegal workforce and encouraged the inclusion of paralegal volunteers within Army units. He suggested that willing ex-servicemen could contribute in this capacity.
The event was attended by Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh Vinai Kumar Saxena; Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh Arun Palli; Justices Sanjeev Kumar, Sindhu Sharma and Shahzad Azeem; Chief Secretary Ladakh Ashish Kundra; and Director General of Police Mukesh Singh.
Lieutenant General Hitesh Bhalla, General Officer Commanding, Fire and Fury Corps, termed it a privilege to host the guardians of the nation’s judicial system. He reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ steadfast commitment to safeguarding national integrity while extending full support to the judiciary.