The Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) on Sunday continued its protest against the proposed relocation of the Gauhati High Court, staging a hunger strike and boycotting a key event attended by the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
Members of the Bar Association observed a four-hour hunger strike from 10 am to 2 pm in front of the existing High Court complex at Uzan Bazar. As part of the protest, the Bar body also decided to stay away from the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the proposed new High Court complex at Rangmahal in North Guwahati, which was attended by the CJI.
The lawyers have been opposing the move to shift the High Court from its current location, arguing that the decision was taken without adequate consultation with stakeholders. They maintain that the present site, located in the heart of the city, is more accessible for litigants, lawyers and the general public.
GHCBA office bearers said the association is completely against relocating the court and alleged that the move would cause inconvenience to thousands of litigants who visit the High Court daily. They reiterated their demand that the decision be reviewed and discussed with the Bar before proceeding further.
The Assam government, however, has defended the relocation plan, stating that the new judicial complex is aimed at providing modern infrastructure and space for future expansion. The state Cabinet had earlier approved funds for the first phase of the project, which is proposed to come up on a large tract of land in North Guwahati.
The existing Gauhati High Court, situated on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra, is one of the oldest High Courts in the country and serves Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.
The Bar Association said it will continue its agitation and decide on further steps in the coming days if their concerns are not addressed.
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