The Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) has taken a firm stand against the Assam government's plan to shift the High Court, announcing a boycott of the upcoming foundation stone-laying ceremony for the new complex. The ceremony, scheduled for January 11 and expected to be attended by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, will proceed without the participation of the key lawyers' body.
Bar Association's Decisive Boycott and Hunger Strikes
In a strongly-worded statement released on Wednesday, the GHCBA declared it has "decided to abstain from participating" in the event. This decision follows Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's official announcement of the ceremony. The association reiterated its consistent opposition to moving the principal seat of the Gauhati High Court from its current central location in Guwahati to Rangmahal in North Guwahati, across the Brahmaputra river.
To amplify their protest, the lawyers' body has also announced a series of six-hour "hunger strikes" to be held on January 8, 9, and 11 in front of the old High Court building. The GHCBA stated that its General Body, after due deliberation, reaffirmed the stand reflected in its earlier resolutions and a referendum conducted by the Association.
The Core Conflict: Accessibility and Public Interest
The heart of the dispute lies in concerns over distance and accessibility. The bar association argues that relocating the High Court to North Guwahati will create significant hurdles for both lawyers and the general public seeking justice. They believe the move to a more remote location will impede easy access to the court, a fundamental requirement for a robust judicial system.
This opposition has fueled a notable discord between the bar council, the state government, and a section of the judiciary. The tensions escalated dramatically in March last year when a major protest by the bar led the High Court to issue a rare press statement condemning remarks made by some bar members against sitting judges. This incident also prompted Advocate General Devajit Saikia to file a contempt of court petition against three members, including Kamal Nayan Choudhury, the president of the bar association.
Political and Professional Ramifications
Adding a political dimension to the legal standoff, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was a practising lawyer before his political career, submitted his resignation from the GHCBA in April. He cited a "conflict of interest" as the reason for his departure from the association. This move underscored the deepening divide between the state's executive branch and the legal fraternity over the relocation issue.
The Gauhati High Court Bar Association's boycott represents a significant escalation in this prolonged dispute. It sets the stage for a tense January 11, where a state function of high constitutional importance will be marked by the conspicuous absence of the very professionals who are the cornerstone of the court's daily functioning. The outcome of this confrontation could have lasting implications for judicial infrastructure planning in the region.
