HC advocates launch hunger strike over shift of premises

Guwahati: Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) members began a three-day hunger strike on Thursday, protesting govt’s move to shift the court complex from its present location to North Guwahati, 30-km across the Brahmaputra.

A new complex of the Gauhati high court has been proposed as part of a judicial township project at Rangmahal in North Guwahati, and Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of it on Jan 11.

The hunger strike, led by GHCBA president KN Choudhury, began at 10 am in front of the old building of the Gauhati high court, as part of a decision made in an emergent extra-ordinary general meeting held on Tuesday.

“As a peaceful and democratic expression of its considered stand, the Gauhati High Court Bar Association shall observe a peaceful hunger strike,” the association said in statement on Wednesday.

The members of the Bar will take part in the hunger strike on Friday and Sunday as well, with the GHCBA also deciding to abstain from the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new high court complex.

“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, it opposed the proposed shifting of the principal seat of the Gauhati high court,” the GHCBA said.

The association has requested its members to honour and adhere to the collective decision of the General Body of the association.

Last month, the association held a referendum on the proposed shifting of the high court. Nearly 86% of the members of the association opposed govt’s move to shift the court.

A senior Bar member said the referendum results made the stand of the lawyers crystal clear. “Shifting of the high court will cause inconvenience to both lawyers and litigants. We have been protesting in a democratic way for a long time. Govt has not paid any attention to the protests. The decision was made by the govt unilaterally. The govt has not consulted the bar association. We don’t think there is any logic in shifting the court to Rangmahal in North Guwahati,” the lawyer had said.