Assam govt’s decision to shift HC, Guwahati bar Association denies

Guwahati: The Guwahati Bar Association said it has opposed the Assam government’s decision to shift the Guwahati High Court from the city center to the Rang Mahal in North Guwahati, about 23 km across the Brahmaputra river.

The association said other bar associations have also supported its resolution to oppose the High Court’s proposed change, and lawyers, who had demonstrated against the proposal on June 27, will take up the matter if necessary. But we will intensify our movement.
A notification was issued on May 23 this year stating that the High Court would be shifted to the Rang Mahal in North Guwahati.

Guwahati Bar Association President Mrinal Kumar Choudhary said that due to the shift, lawyers, litigants and common people will face problems.
“This is not a practical idea…ground realities have not been taken into account while taking this decision,” he said.

He said that there is no complaint from the lawyers or the public that they are facing difficulties in the existing premises.
There is no public interest involved in shifting the premises from Guwahati across the river Brahmaputra to North Guwahati. The justification given is that the expansion is needed as the existing premises do not have enough space for courts and lawyers,” Choudhary said.
“The only problem we sometimes face is parking which is a very minor problem and can be solved. There has been no demand from the lawyers to shift the premises… We suspect that this step It has been raised in the interest of certain vested forces about which we know nothing,” he added.
The old Guwahati High Court building was established in 1960 and then expanded 10 years ago with the construction of a new building at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

“What will happen to these buildings now?” What is the need for further expansion which will cost around Rs 1,000 crore when the state is already saddled with heavy debt,” he asked.
Choudhury added that the lawyers’ fraternity would not allow the Guwahati High Court to be shifted to North Guwahati and would continue to oppose the move.