GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has strongly refuted misinformation circulating in the public domain regarding its relocation, stating that no formal decision has been made to shift the High Court from its present location. The court condemned the false narrative being spread by a section of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association, which it claims is aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the judiciary and eroding public confidence in the institution.
ALSO READ: NHAI Signs ₹5,729 Crore Agreement For Guwahati Ring Road Development
The issue of relocation first arose in 2022 when the High Court sought to establish a Judicial Complex for the District Judiciary of Kamrup (Metro) at Boragaon, 16 km from the existing location. In response, the Gauhati High Court Bar Association, through its resolution dated November 25, 2022, proposed consolidating all courts into a single campus. Given the increasing number of judges, lawyers, and litigants, along with advancements in legal technology, the High Court decided to explore the feasibility of a State-of-the-Art Judicial Township, which would house the High Court, District Judiciary, and Tribunals in a single location for administrative efficiency and ease of access.
Following this, the Government of Assam issued a notification on June 2, 2023, regarding the setting up of the Judicial Township. A High-Level Committee was subsequently formed by a notification dated June 15, 2023, under the Governor of Assam’s directive, comprising two High Court judges, the Advocate General, and top state officials. The committee was tasked with identifying a suitable location for the proposed township.
After extensive site inspections, the committee recommended a plot in Rangmahal, North Guwahati, noting that the under-construction Brahmaputra bridge would reduce travel time to approximately 12-15 minutes. The High Court accepted this recommendation in a Full Court meeting on October 18, 2023, and urged the government to expedite the land allotment process. However, the land acquisition process remains ongoing, and no decision regarding the construction of a new High Court building—let alone its relocation—has been finalized.
Despite these developments, certain members of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association have alleged that the Chief Justice and a fellow judge met with the Chief Minister in secrecy and unilaterally decided to shift the High Court without consulting the Bar Association. The High Court has categorically dismissed these claims as false and misleading, clarifying that any decision on infrastructure falls solely within the High Court’s administrative jurisdiction. Consultation with the Bar is only required concerning facilities for lawyers and litigants, not on administrative matters such as land acquisition.
Furthermore, a meeting between the Chief Justice and the Chief Minister on March 8, 2025, which was attended by registry officials focused solely on issues such as judicial officer appointments, funding for paperless courts, and the infrastructure of the Judicial Academy. Although a PowerPoint presentation on possible State-of-the-Art infrastructure was shown, the Chief Justice maintained that any decision on the matter would be made only after a Full Court discussion.
Additionally, the High Court has broken its institutional silence to condemn what it calls a deliberate attempt to malign its independence. Personal attacks on judges made in the media by some Bar members were described as objectionable and baseless. The High Court expressed disappointment that while the Gauhati High Court Bar Association distanced itself from these remarks on March 26, 2025, it failed to take strong action against those responsible.
Reiterating its commitment to judicial independence, the Gauhati High Court urged legal professionals and the public to reject misinformation and assured that all relevant details regarding the Judicial Township will be disclosed transparently at an appropriate time.
