The standoff between the state government and the Gauhati High Court Bar Association over the proposed relocation of the High Court showed no signs of easing on Thursday, as lawyers sat on a peaceful hunger strike in Guwahati to oppose the move.
The protest was organised by the Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) against the foundation stone laying ceremony of the proposed new High Court building at Rangmahal in North Guwahati, scheduled for January 11, 2026. The ceremony is expected to be attended by the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, along with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
According to the Bar Association, the hunger strike is part of a “peaceful and democratic expression” of its long-standing opposition to shifting the principal seat of the Gauhati High Court from its current location. The association stated that its general body has repeatedly discussed the issue and has consistently opposed the relocation through formal resolutions and a referendum conducted last month. 
As per the decision taken by the general body, members of the association are observing six-hour hunger strikes from 10 am to 4 pm on January 8, 9 and 11. In a statement, the association stressed that following resolutions passed by the general body is a matter of institutional discipline and collective responsibility.
The Bar Association has been firmly resisting the state government’s plan to shift the court to North Guwahati. In December, it conducted a ballot among its members to gauge opinion on the proposed move. The results showed strong opposition, with 1,164 votes cast against relocation out of a total of 1,358 votes. Only 154 members supported the move, while 27 opted for NOTA and 13 votes were cancelled.
Lawyers opposing the relocation argue that shifting the High Court will create serious practical difficulties. Many advocates have spent years setting up chambers near the existing court premises in Guwahati. They say daily travel to North Guwahati would be inconvenient, time-consuming and disruptive to court work.
