The Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) on Thursday launched a three-day hunger strike to protest the Assam government’s decision to shift the principal seat of the Gauhati High Court from its present location in central Guwahati to a proposed judicial township in North Guwahati. The protest marks a significant escalation in the long-standing opposition by the Bar to the relocation plan, which it argues is against the interests of lawyers, litigants, and the general public.

Members of the Bar Association commenced the hunger strike at 10 am in front of the historic old building of the Gauhati High Court in the Uzan Bazar area. The protest is scheduled to be observed for three days, with participating lawyers fasting for six hours each day. The agitation is being led by GHCBA president K.N. Choudhury and follows a decision taken at an emergent Extra-Ordinary General Meeting of the Association held earlier this week.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the GHCBA described the hunger strike as a “peaceful and democratic expression” of its firm opposition to the proposed shifting of the high court complex. The Association reiterated that it has consistently opposed the move through resolutions passed in the past as well as through a referendum conducted among its members.

The immediate trigger for the protest is the government’s plan to construct a new high court complex as part of a larger judicial township at Rangmahal in North Guwahati. Spread across 129 bighas, or more than 42.5 acres of land, the proposed township is envisioned as a modern, integrated judicial hub. The foundation stone for the project is scheduled to be laid on January 11 by the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant.

However, the Bar Association has made it clear that its members will not participate in the foundation stone laying ceremony. In its statement, the GHCBA said that the General Body, after detailed deliberation, had unanimously decided to abstain from the event. The Association appealed to all its members to respect and adhere to this collective decision as a mark of solidarity.

“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 said. It added that the decision to abstain from the ceremony was part of a broader protest strategy to convey the seriousness of the Bar’s concerns to the authorities.

The hunger strike will continue on Friday and Sunday, with the Association deliberately choosing a peaceful form of protest to highlight its opposition. Bar leaders emphasised that they were not against infrastructure development or modernisation of the judiciary but were opposed to what they see as an ill-considered relocation that could disrupt the functioning of the court and inconvenience thousands of litigants.

The Gauhati High Court is currently located in the Uzan Bazar area of central Guwahati, on the southern bank of the Brahmaputra river. The court complex has both historical and modern significance. The original heritage building stands as a symbol of the region’s judicial legacy, while a state-of-the-art multi-storey structure was constructed and inaugurated a few years ago to address space constraints and modern requirements.

Both buildings face each other across Mahatma Gandhi Road and are connected by an underground tunnel equipped with escalator facilities, allowing seamless movement between the two structures. The existing location is centrally situated, well-connected by road, and easily accessible to lawyers, litigants, court staff and the general public.

The Bar Association has repeatedly argued that shifting the principal seat of the high court to North Guwahati, across the Brahmaputra, would pose serious logistical challenges. North Guwahati is located on the northern bank of the river, and while it is geographically close, connectivity issues, traffic congestion, and dependence on bridges and ferry services are major concerns, particularly during peak hours or adverse weather conditions.

According to the GHCBA, a large number of litigants who come to the high court are from different parts of Assam and neighbouring states within the court’s jurisdiction. For many of them, access to the current location is far more convenient due to proximity to transport hubs, lawyers’ chambers, government offices, and other essential facilities. The Association fears that relocating the court could increase costs, travel time and hardship for litigants, especially those from rural and remote areas.

The Assam government, on the other hand, has defended the relocation plan as part of a broader vision to modernise judicial infrastructure and develop the Brahmaputra riverfront in Guwahati. The government intends to acquire the land currently occupied by the high court complex to facilitate riverfront development, which is seen as a major urban rejuvenation project.

In November last year, the state cabinet approved ₹479 crore for the first phase of construction of the judicial township in North Guwahati. Officials have said the new complex would provide ample space, modern facilities, residential quarters for judges, lawyers’ chambers, and other infrastructure required for the efficient functioning of the judiciary.

Despite these assurances, the Bar Association has demanded an immediate halt to the project. It has argued that any decision of such magnitude should be taken only after meaningful consultation with all stakeholders, particularly the legal fraternity, which is directly affected by the relocation.

The GHCBA has also expressed concern that shifting the principal seat could dilute the historical and symbolic importance of the Gauhati High Court’s current location. The court has been situated in Uzan Bazar for decades and is closely associated with the legal and civic life of Guwahati.

Legal observers note that opposition by bar associations to relocation or restructuring of court complexes is not uncommon, as such moves have far-reaching implications for daily practice, access to justice, and institutional continuity. However, the hunger strike by the GHCBA underscores the depth of discontent among lawyers in Assam over the proposed shift.

As the foundation stone laying ceremony approaches, the standoff between the Bar Association and the state government appears set to intensify. While the government is keen to push ahead with its plans, the lawyers’ protest signals that the issue is far from settled. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether dialogue and compromise can bridge the gap, or whether the dispute will escalate further, potentially affecting the functioning of the state’s highest court.