Discontent in Gauhati HC: Bar Association to boycott foundation stone laying ceremony
Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) on Wednesday announced that it will boycott the foundation stone laying ceremony of the proposed new High Court complex.
The Association also stated that its members will observe a hunger strike on the day to protest the relocation plan.
The new complex is part of a judicial township proposed at Rangmahal in North Guwahati.
Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, is scheduled to lay the foundation stone on January 11.
In a statement, the GHCBA said, “The General Body, after due deliberation, has reiterated and reaffirmed its consistent stand, as reflected in earlier resolutions and the referendum conducted by the Association, opposing the proposed shifting of the Principal Seat of the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court from its present location.”
The decision was taken during an Emergent Extra-Ordinary General Meeting held on Tuesday in connection with the construction of the new High Court building.
The Association appealed to its members to respect the General Body’s decision and refrain from attending or participating in the ceremony in any form.
The GHCBA stressed that unity, discipline, and institutional dignity are key reasons for abstaining from the event.
“To express our stance in a peaceful and democratic manner, the Gauhati High Court Bar Association will observe a peaceful hunger strike,” the statement added. The strike will be held on Thursday, Friday, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the old High Court building. The Association also stressed that adherence to General Body resolutions is essential for institutional discipline
The GHCBA has long opposed the plan to relocate the High Court from its current location in central Guwahati on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra to the northern bank at Rangmahal. The government intends to construct the new judicial township on approximately 129 bighas (over 42.5 acres) of land.
In November 2025, the state cabinet approved Rs 479 crore for the first phase of the township’s construction. Earlier, the Bar had called for an immediate halt to the project to protect the interests of stakeholders and the public
Currently, the Gauhati High Court operates from the Uzan Bazar area, which includes a historic building alongside a modern multi-storey structure inaugurated in recent years.
The two buildings face each other across Mahatma Gandhi Road and are linked by an underground tunnel equipped with escalators.
The Assam government plans to develop the Brahmaputra riverfront, which involves acquiring land currently occupied by the High Court
