Kupwara, Aug 23 (JKNS): The two-day visit of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sanjeev Kumar, Acting Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, to the frontier sub-division of Karnah concluded on Saturday with his maiden visit to the historic Sharda Temple at LoC Teetwal, where he paid obeisance and performed Puja at the newly constructed temple.
The Acting Chief Justice was accompanied by his family during the visit to the temple. He was also accompanied by Mr. M. K. Sharma, Registrar General, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, SDM Karnah Mohd. Raiyaz Ahmad and other officials.
The newly constructed Sharda Temple, located close to the Line of Control at Teetwal, was inaugurated in March 2023 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. During his visit, Justice Sanjeev Kumar offered prayers and interacted with those associated with the temple.
He was received at the temple by Ajaz Khan, Coordinator, and Mahaveer Thussu, Manager, along with Pujaris Kamal and Ritik Raina.
Justice Sanjeev Kumar appreciated the efforts ofl the Save Sharda Committee Kashmir for reclaiming and rebuilding the temple at the same site where, according to historical accounts, a Sharda shrine existed before Partition during the Maharaja’s period. The original structure was destroyed during the violence surrounding Partition.
During his visit, the Acting Chief Justice also visited the Sikh Gurudwara situated within the same complex, highlighting the shared cultural and spiritual heritage represented at the Teetwal site.
The temple visit marked the concluding engagement of the Chief Justice’s two-day visit to Karnah, during which he participated in a major legal awareness and outreach programme at Government Degree College (GDC) Tangdhar on August 23 under the NALSA JAGRITI (Justice Awareness for Grassroots Information and Transparency Initiative) Scheme, 2025.
The programme, organised by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Kupwara, under the aegis of the Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority (JKLSA) and in furtherance of the objectives of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), was held under the theme “Empowered Youth, Stronger India.”
Addressing a large gathering of students, officials, members of the Bar, civil society representatives and local residents, Justice Sanjeev Kumar emphasised that geographical distance and difficult terrain should never become a barrier to justice.
He stressed the importance of taking legal awareness and legal services to people at the grassroots, particularly those living in remote and frontier areas. He also highlighted youth empowerment, constitutional values, rights and duties, child-friendly justice, mental health, prevention of substance abuse, cyber awareness and the responsible use of technology.
The Acting Chief Justice called upon legal services institutions, including DLSAs, Taluk Legal Services Committees, Panel Lawyers and Para-Legal Volunteers, to proactively reach people in need rather than waiting for them to approach legal institutions.
He also emphasised that legal awareness must go beyond simply informing people about their rights and should enable them to understand where and how to seek assistance and access actual remedies.
The Tangdhar programme also featured a cultural presentation by students and artists, including a skit highlighting the harmful consequences of drug trafficking. A medical camp was also organised as part of the outreach initiative, providing free medical consultation, treatment and medicines to the local population.
The two-day visit of the Acting Chief Justice to Karnah thus combined legal outreach, youth empowerment, community engagement and a visit to the region’s important religious and cultural heritage sites.
His visit to the Sharda Temple at Teetwal, situated in the sensitive frontier area, further underscored the significance of preserving the region’s historical, cultural and spiritual heritage. The visit concluded with a message that justice, legal awareness, social responsibility and respect for the shared heritage of communities must reach even the remotest corners of Jammu & Kashmir. (JKNS)
