The members of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) on Thursday began a three-day hunger strike to protest the Assam government’s decision to shift the Gauhati High Court complex to North Guwahati. The move comes ahead of the scheduled foundation stone laying ceremony for the new court complex on January 11 by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant.
The peaceful protest, led by GHCBA president KN Choudhury, began at 10 am in front of the old building of the Gauhati High Court. It was held pursuant to a resolution passed during an emergent Extra-Ordinary General Meeting of the Bar Association earlier this week. The protest is set to continue on Friday and Sunday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Association said, “As a peaceful and democratic expression of its considered stand, the Gauhati High Court Bar Association shall observe a peaceful hunger strike.”
The GHCBA has consistently opposed the proposed relocation of the High Court’s Principal Seat from its current location in central Guwahati to Rangmahal in North Guwahati. The Association reiterated its position in Wednesday’s statement, highlighting that its stand had already been endorsed through multiple resolutions and a referendum among its members.
“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 statement read.
The Association has also announced that it will abstain from the foundation stone laying ceremony. “All learned members of the Bar are earnestly appealed to and respectfully requested to kindly honour and adhere to the collective decision of the General Body,” it added.
The Assam government plans to build a new judicial township at Rangmahal, North Guwahati, spread over 129 bighas (approximately 42.5 acres) of land. In November 2025, the state cabinet approved an allocation of ₹479 crore for the first phase of the project.
The current High Court complex is situated in the Uzan Bazar area on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra river, in the heart of Guwahati. The existing infrastructure includes the iconic heritage building as well as a newly constructed modern multi-storey complex, both located on opposite sides of Mahatma Gandhi Road and connected via an underground tunnel with escalator access.
The government’s plan to develop the Brahmaputra riverfront reportedly involves acquiring the current High Court land, which has raised significant concerns among the Bar members and legal community. The GHCBA had earlier called for an immediate halt to the project, citing concerns about accessibility, heritage conservation, and the interests of litigants and stakeholders.
The ongoing hunger strike marks a critical moment in the ongoing standoff between the legal fraternity and the state over the proposed relocation, with the Bar Association vowing to continue its peaceful protest and resistance to the government’s plan.
