Guwahati, Jan 9: The Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) has strongly opposed the Assam government’s decision to relocate the Gauhati High Court from its current location in Latasil to Rangmahal in North Guwahati.
The association expressed unanimous opposition during an extraordinary general meeting held on Thursday, citing concerns over infrastructure, accessibility, and lack of consultation with stakeholders.
The GHCBA said the Rangmahal area is deemed remote and underdeveloped, lacking the infrastructure necessary to support a judicial township.
“Relocating the High Court to a less accessible location could severely hinder legal proceedings, affecting both litigants and legal professionals,” it said.
“The association criticized the government for proceeding with land acquisition for the judicial township without consulting the Bar Association, despite earlier assurances from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court,” it also said.
The Bar Association recalled prior commitments from the Chief Minister that no relocation would occur until the completion of an ongoing bridge construction project. Additionally, the Chief Justice had promised to involve the GHCBA in decisions regarding the High Court’s relocation. The government’s unilateral move to acquire land at Rangmahal has been condemned as a breach of trust.
The extraordinary meeting was attended by prominent legal professionals, including senior advocate Anil Kumar Bhattacharjee, former president Mrinal Kumar Choudhury, advocates Arup Borbora, Millie Hazarika, and Krishna Kanta Mahanta.
During the meeting, the GHCBA resolved to escalate their opposition to higher levels of the judiciary and executive. They plan to seek urgent consultations with the Chief Minister and the Chief Justice to present their case against the relocation.
In the meeting, president Kamal Narayan Choudhury articulated the association’s steadfast opposition to the relocation, emphasizing the need for a democratic and lawful approach to contest the decision.
Secretary General Girin Pegu initiated the session, urging members to unite in safeguarding the interests of the legal community and the public.
The GHCBA has vowed to collaborate with the Advisory Committee to explore legal and democratic measures against the relocation and advocate for broader consultations with stakeholders before proceeding with any such significant decision to protect the interests of litigants, legal professionals, and the public by opposing the government’s unilateral actions.
