CJI Surya Kant lays foundation for new Gauhati HC complex amid hunger strike, boycott by lawyers

Guwahati: Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Sunday laid the foundation for a new complex of Gauhati High Court and a district court amid hunger strike and boycott by most members of the bar association.

On completion of the construction, the present Gauhati High Court and the Kamrup Metro district and sessions judge court would be shifted from the heart of Guwahati city to Rangmahal, just across the Brahmaputra river in North Guwahati.

This left most members of Gauhati High Court Bar Association angry with many raising distance and accessibility concerns. They said the shifting of the High court would force lawyers to spend extra money and cause communication difficult.

But Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the arguments by lawyers has no basis as the transportation time between the present High Court and the new campus would be between 20 to 30 minutes after the new bridge being constructed connecting the city with North Guwahati is opened next month.

After laying the foundation at Rangmahal, the CJI said, "I believe either they are ill-informed or unfortunately they are not ready for the need and necessity for the young members of the bar or those who are keen to join the profession. I hope and believe that personal vested interests---only because you might be having a good office near the near the old complex--should not be the valid or justified grounds to hamper development of modern day infrastructure which has completely futuristic approach."

The CJI asked the state government and Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court to ensure that young lawyers are provided space in the new complex, irrespective of their their social strata and experience.

Protest by lawyers

At the time of foundation stone laying function, the members of the High Court Bar Association staged a protest and hunger strike near their office on the opposite bank of the Brahmaputra. They rued why the foundation stone was laid without a discusison on their concerns. On Saturday, Assam advocate general Devajit Saikia even suspected "political motive" behind the protest by members of the association.

The new court

The estimated expenditure for the complex is Rs 1,705 crores. The High court complex, which will have 31 courtrooms, will be built at a cost of Rs 479 crore in the first phase. A judicial township, which would include a district court complex with 65 courtrooms, will be constructed near the high court at a later stage and is expected to cost another Rs 1,227 crore.