Guwahati, January 11 (IANS): Chief Justice of India Surya Kant laid the foundation stone for an integrated Judicial Court Complex at Rangmahal in North Guwahati, Assam’s Kamrup district, on Sunday, amidst ongoing protests from members of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association against the proposed judicial township. This new infrastructure aims to house the Gauhati High Court, which serves not only Assam but also Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland. The plan to create a judicial township in North Guwahati has faced strong opposition from some lawyers who are against relocating the High Court from its current site in central Guwahati.
Justice Kant expressed surprise at the opposition, stating that resistance to modern judicial infrastructure should not be based on personal interests. He remarked, “Those opposing the new court complex are either ill-informed or unaware of the needs of future members of the Bar. Personal vested interests cannot be valid grounds to oppose infrastructure meant for the future.” He characterized the integrated Judicial Court Complex as a progressive initiative tailored to address the needs of the judiciary and legal community over the coming decades, emphasizing that the Rangmahal site is strategically positioned to offer all necessary facilities under one roof.
As a member of the nation’s highest judiciary, Justice Kant noted his duty to respond to the evolving requirements of legal professionals. Attendees at the event included Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, and several judges from the Supreme Court and various high courts.
Contrarily, the Gauhati High Court Bar Association boycotted the event and staged a four-hour hunger strike outside the existing High Court premises in Uzan Bazar. Association leaders reiterated their opposition to the High Court’s relocation, labeling it an encroachment upon what they consider the “heart of the city,” and criticized the government for making a unilateral decision.
The Assam government intends to develop the judicial township on an area of 148 bighas, or nearly 49 acres, in Rangmahal. In November of the previous year, the state cabinet greenlit a budget of ₹479 crore for the initial phase of construction. Additionally, the government has indicated that the land of the existing High Court is required for the development of the Brahmaputra riverfront, with a new convention center already under construction nearby.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/cji-lays-stone-for-judicial-complex-in-north-guwahati-amid-bar-association-protests
Category: North-East
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Publish Date: 2026-01-11 20:52:00
