Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) has strongly opposed the Assam government’s decision to relocate the High Court from its current location in the heart of Guwahati city to North Guwahati.
The Association has slammed the Government’s land acquisition for the proposed judicial township at Rangmahal in North Guwahati.
“This move has been met with unanimous opposition from the legal fraternity, citing concerns over accessibility, infrastructure, and the lack of consultation with stakeholders,” the Bar Association stated in a press release.
The GHCBA recently held an extraordinary general meeting to discuss the state government’s recent move to shift the Gauhati High Court.
The Association criticized the government’s decision to proceed with land acquisition for the proposed judicial township at Rangmahal, despite Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s prior assurance that the relocation would not take place before the completion of the bridge over the Brahmaputra, which would connect the southern and northern banks.
The GHCBA highlighted that the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court had previously committed to involving the Bar Association in such decisions, a commitment that was not fulfilled in this instance of relocation.
Condemning this “unilateral action”, the GHCBA emphasized that the relocation to a remote area lacking adequate infrastructure will significantly impede the efficiency of legal proceedings and adversely affect litigants and legal professionals.
The Association demanded an “immediate halt to the project in the interest of all stakeholders and the public at large”.
“The general body resolved to escalate their opposition to the highest echelons of the judiciary and executive, seeking immediate consultations with the chief minister and the chief justice to present their case against the relocation,” the statement said.
The Gauhati High Court is currently located in Uzan Bazar in central Guwahati, situated on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River.
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The Assam government’s plan to develop the Brahmaputra Riverfront requires the acquisition of the land currently occupied by the High Court.
