Gauhati HC bar association on hunger strike against shifting of court complex

Members of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) commenced a three-day, six-hour hunger strike on Thursday against the Government’s move to shift the court complex to North Guwahati.

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

The hunger strike, led by the GHCBA president, KN Choudhury, began at 10 am in front of the old building of the Gauhati High Court, as part of a decision 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 had said in a statement on Wednesday.

The members of the Bar will take part in the hunger strike on Friday and Sunday also, 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, opposing the proposed shifting of the Principal Seat of the Hon’ble Gauhati High Court from its present location,” the GHCBA had said in the statement.

“The Association has decided to abstain from participating in the proposed 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,” the statement said.