CM quits HC bar association over Judicial Township row
2
Guwahati:
Himanta Biswa Sarma
, chief minister, has resigned from the
Gauhati High Court Bar Association
, citing a conflict of interest over the proposed
Judicial Township
project. Sarma, who practised law from 1994 to 2001, submitted his resignation on Wednesday following the association's opposition to the establishment of new judicial infrastructure at Rangmahal in
North Guwahati
.
In his resignation letter, Sarma addressed the association's objections to the Judicial Township, which was recommended by the high court during its Full Court meeting on Oct 18, 2023. Despite financial constraints, the state govt accepted the recommendation, committing over Rs 1,000 crore to the project.
The CM highlighted the limitations of the current high court buildings in the city centre, including lack of expansion possibilities, insufficient parking, and inadequate facilities such as modern libraries, auditoriums, and advocates' chambers. "The existing infrastructure miserably failed to meet present-day requirements, and the situation will only worsen," Sarma said.
The state govt identified six potential sites in Kamrup district, all within 15 minutes to 1.5 hours of travel time. Sarma warned that delaying the decision might force them to look beyond Kamrup district in the future. He also noted that the upcoming Guwahati-North Guwahati bridge would reduce travel time to the proposed site to just 15-20 minutes.
He suggested converting the current high court buildings into a judicial museum and emphasised his constitutional duty to collaborate with the Gauhati HC, particularly on decisions made during Full Court meetings.
The CM dismissed allegations that the North Guwahati location was chosen for political gain, as it falls within his constituency, calling such claims baseless. He expressed confidence that the legal fraternity would eventually recognise the long-term benefits of the decision, especially given the rapid infrastructural development in North Guwahati.
"Given the Bar association's position, which conflicts with both the HC's and state govt's stance, I find myself in a morally difficult position, unable to align with the opposition to the Full Court's decision," Sarma concluded in his letter.
The Bar association has yet to accept his resignation, with the executive committee expected to decide on the matter soon.
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