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Assam Lawyers Hunger Strike Over High Court Relocation Plan to North Guwahati

Members of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association have begun a three-day hunger strike protesting the Assam government's decision to relocate the High Court to North Guwahati. The protest, led by the Bar President, is a response to a planned judicial township project at Rangmahal, for which the foundation stone is to be laid by the Chief Justice of India. The lawyers' body has called for a boycott of the ceremony, arguing the move from the current central location would cause major inconvenience. The government, however, maintains the relocation is part of a broader Brahmaputra riverfront development plan.

Key Points: Gauhati High Court Bar Hunger Strike Against Relocation

  • 3-day hunger strike by lawyers
  • Protest against court relocation to North Guwahati
  • Boycott of CJI foundation ceremony
  • Rs 479 crore approved for judicial township
2 min read

Three-day hunger strike against relocating Gauhati High Court to North Guwahati begins

Lawyers begin 3-day hunger strike opposing Assam govt's plan to shift Gauhati High Court to North Guwahati, boycotting CJI's foundation event.

"peaceful and democratic expression - Gauhati High Court Bar Association"

Guwahati, Jan 8

Members of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association on Thursday began a three-day hunger strike to protest the Assam government's decision to shift the Gauhati High Court to North Guwahati, intensifying opposition to the proposed judicial township at Rangmahal.

The protest, scheduled to be held for six hours each day, commenced at 10 a.m. in front of the old High Court building at Uzan Bazar.

The agitation follows a resolution adopted at an emergent extraordinary general meeting of the Bar Association earlier this week.

GHCBA President K.N. Choudhury is leading the protest.

The state government has proposed the construction of a new High Court complex as part of a judicial township spread over 129 bighas, or more than 42.5 acres, at Rangmahal on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River.

The foundation stone for the project is scheduled to be laid on Sunday by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, an event the Bar Association has decided to boycott.

In a statement, the GHCBA described the hunger strike as a "peaceful and democratic expression" of its opposition to the relocation plan.

The Association reiterated that its general body, after detailed deliberations, has consistently opposed shifting the principal seat from its current location in central Guwahati.

It noted that this position has earlier been reflected in formal resolutions as well as a referendum conducted among its members.

The Bar Association has appealed to all advocates to respect the collective decision and refrain from attending the foundation stone-laying ceremony.

The Assam Cabinet had approved an allocation of Rs 479 crore in November last year for the first phase of construction of the judicial township.

The government has maintained that the relocation is part of a broader plan to develop the Brahmaputra riverfront, for which the High Court land at Uzan Bazar is required.

At present, the Gauhati High Court functions from a historic building along with a modern multi-storey complex built in recent years.

The two buildings, located on opposite sides of Mahatma Gandhi Road, are connected by an underground tunnel equipped with escalator facilities.

The GHCBA has consistently argued that shifting the court complex would cause inconvenience to litigants and lawyers alike and has called for an immediate halt to the project, citing the interests of all stakeholders and the general public.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
While I understand the need for development, relocating a major institution like the High Court seems disruptive. The article mentions a referendum was conducted—shouldn't the voices of the lawyers and staff who work there daily carry more weight than a bureaucratic plan?
A
Aditya G
Rs 479 crore for the first phase! That's a massive amount of public money. Wouldn't it be better spent on improving the existing infrastructure or on urgent needs like healthcare and education in Assam? The priorities seem misplaced.
P
Priya S
The historic building and the modern complex are already connected and functional. Why fix what isn't broken? The riverfront development is important, but not at the cost of displacing a crucial pillar of justice. Hope the hunger strike makes the government listen.
M
Michael C
Respectfully, I have to disagree with the protest. A new judicial township could be a visionary project for North Guwahati's development, creating jobs and better facilities in the long run. Sometimes short-term inconvenience is needed for long-term progress.
K
Kavya N
The connectivity issue is real. Not everyone has a car to easily cross the bridge. For common people relying on public transport, going to North Guwahati will add hours and cost to their already stressful legal journeys. Government must provide solid solutions first.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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