86% bar association members cast votes against proposed shifting of Gauhati high cour

Guwahati: Nearly 86% of Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) members who voted opposed state govt’s move to shift the court from its present location.The government has proposed a plan to relocate the high court from its current location, where it has been functioning since 1948, to North Guwahati, approximately 30 km across the Brahmaputra.The results followed a referendum on the proposed shifting of the high court held on Friday.A senior Gauhati high court advocate and a member of the Bar said a total of 1,358 votes were cast, of which 1,164 opposed the proposed shift and 154 favoured. A total of 27 people opted for NOTA, and 13 votes were cancelled.“This outcome reflects strong opposition among the members. The referendum was conducted to show that the majority of the members of the Bar are against the decision, even though govt is trying to justify it with various arguments,” the advocate said.The advocate added that the Bar members have been opposing the move vehemently from the day govt announced its decision in 2023, but the govt has not given any heed to the concerns and suggestions of the lawyer fraternity.“We have been staging protests in a democratic way for a long time. Unfortunately, the govt has not paid any attention to the protests. The decision was made 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 senior Bar member said.The relocation of the court from its historic site will affect both the advocates and litigants. Many will have to travel long distances for hearings and bear additional financial burdens. The lawyers’ fraternity believes that the current location, where the high court has been operating since its inception, is a prime location and accessible from all directions.He added that the lawyers have certain minor issues that can be easily resolved by spending a minimal amount of funds. “The decision was not made unanimously. The lawyers’ fraternity is a very important stakeholder. We do not understand why govt has not consulted the lawyers,” the advocate said.