Assam: Lawyers Protest Gauhati HC Shift, Reject January 11 Event
The Gauhati High Court Bar Association will boycott the January 11 foundation stone ceremony of the new High Court building and observe a hunger strike, opposing the relocation plan to North Guwahati.
GUWAHATI- The Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) has announced that it will boycott the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the proposed new High Court building at Rangmahal in North Guwahati, scheduled for January 11, 2026. The decision was taken at an emergent general body meeting held on January 6.
In an official press release, the Bar Association reiterated its longstanding opposition to the proposed relocation of the Principal Seat of the Gauhati High Court from its current location in Guwahati to the new site.
The body said its stance has been reflected in earlier resolutions and a referendum conducted among its members, where a large majority opposed the shift of the court complex.
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“In view of the resolution of the General Body, the Association has decided to abstain from participating in the proposed Foundation Stone Laying Ceremony,” the release stated. It also appealed to all members to honour the collective decision and refrain from attending or participating in the event “in any manner whatsoever,” emphasising unity, discipline and institutional dignity.
As part of its protest, the GHCBA announced a hunger strike to be observed on January 8, 9 and 11 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm in front of the old Gauhati High Court building near Gate No. 4.
The association described the hunger strike as a peaceful and democratic form of protest intended to underscore its disagreements with the relocation plan.
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The relocation proposal — supported by the Assam government — involves shifting the court complex from its existing city-central location to a proposed Integrated Judicial Court Complex at Rangmahal, North Guwahati. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had announced last year that the Chief Justice of India was likely to inaugurate the foundation ceremony in January 2026.
Opponents of the plan, including the Gauhati High Court Bar Association and sections of the legal fraternity, have raised concerns over accessibility, lack of infrastructure and consultation, and the potential disruption to court operations and litigants if the court is shifted.
