CJI surprised over lawyers’ opposition to new court complex

Guwahati: CJI Surya Kant on Sunday expressed surprise over opposition by a section of members of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) to the proposed integrated judicial court complex in North Guwahati, where he laid the foundation stone, stating that personal interests should not dictate opposition to infrastructure development.“I was initially surprised, when it was brought to my notice, that some members of the Bar Association have been opposing this development. I believe that either they are ill informed or unfortunately they are not realising the need and the necessity for young members of the Bar and those who are in queue to join the profession. I hope, and still firmly believe, that each one of them will realise that personal vested interests should not be a valid or justified ground to hamper development of a modern day infrastructure, which has a futuristic approach,” the CJI said.Members of GHCBA, who have been opposing the state govt’s proposal of setting up the judicial complex at Rangmahal, about 30km across the Brahmaputra from the present HC location at Panbazar, for nearly three years, held a four-hour strike on Sunday, besides boycotting the foundation-laying ceremony.Earlier, on Thursday and Friday, the members had gone on a two-day hunger strike in front of the old Gauhati HC building.Addressing the gathering, the CJI said, “The complex is envisaged to match aspirations of the future. As the head of the Indian judiciary, my priority is to the development of future infrastructure that empowers those who are yet to find their footing. They must also be respected. They must also be given sufficient space.”CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said a section of lawyers had opposed the project, citing increased travel time to the new location. “The new bridge over the Brahmaputra connecting Bharalu on the south bank and North Guwahati on the north bank will be inaugurated by PM Modi in mid-February. Travel time between the two points will be just seven to eight minutes,” he said.