CJI Terms Bar Protest “Misinformed” as He Lays Foundation for New Court Complex

Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant on Sunday laid the foundation stone for a proposed integrated Judicial Court Complex at Rangmahal in North Guwahati’s Kamrup district, even as the move drew open resistance from the Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA).

The project, which includes a new complex for the Gauhati High Court serving Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland is part of a larger judicial township planned in the area. The proposal has triggered sustained protests from sections of the legal fraternity, who oppose shifting the court from its present location in central Guwahati.

Addressing the gathering after the ceremony, the Chief Justice expressed concern over the opposition to the project, stating that objections rooted in “personal vested interest” should not stand in the way of institutional development. He said those resisting the move were either “misinformed or not fully aware of the requirements of the next generation of lawyers.”

“Opposition based on individual convenience cannot be a valid reason to stall infrastructure meant for the future. As the head of the judiciary, I have a responsibility to plan for those who are entering the profession and will serve in the years ahead,” Justice Kant said.

Describing the new complex as a forward-looking initiative, the CJI said the integrated judicial facility was designed to meet the evolving needs of the justice delivery system. He added that the Rangmahal site was strategically selected and would offer modern court infrastructure with all essential services housed in a single campus.

The event was attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, judges of the Supreme Court and various high courts, along with senior government officials and invited dignitaries.

Outside the ceremony, however, opposition remained firm. The Gauhati High Court Bar Association boycotted the foundation stone event and continued its four-hour hunger strike, which began on Thursday in front of the existing High Court building in Uzan Bazar. The lawyers’ body has maintained that the decision to relocate the court complex was taken without adequate consultation and warned of further action if their concerns are ignored.

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