The Chief Justice of India Surya Kant laid the foundation stone for an Integrated Judicial Court Complex at North Guwahati, marking a significant institutional expansion of the judiciary in Northeast India.

About Gauhati High Court

  • The Assam High Court was inaugurated in Shillong on April 5, 1948, and later shifted to Gauhati on August 14, 1948, before being renamed the Gauhati High Court in 1971. 
  • The Principal Seat of the Gauhati High Court is at Guwahati, Assam. 
  • Apart from it, the High Court has three outlying Benches, viz, Kohima Bench for Nagaland, Aizawl Bench for Mizoram and Itanagar Bench for Arunachal Pradesh. 
  • The Gauhati High Court occupied a unique position of being a common High Court of seven States of North East India, till 23.03.2013, when separate High Courts were established in Meghalaya, Manipur and Tripura.
  • Sir Ronald Francis Lodge was the first Chief Justice of the Assam High Court (now Gauhati High Court). 
  • The first Assamese Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court was Justice Holiram Deka, who served from January 3, 1961, to June 29, 1961.

What is the Integrated Judicial Court Complex?

  • The complex will house the principal seat of the Gauhati High Court, which serves Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland.
  • It is being developed at Rangmahal over 148 bighas (around 49 acres).
  • Phase-I cost: approximately ₹479 crore.
  • Envisioned as a modern judicial city, integrating courts, lawyers, litigants and judicial staff in one campus.

Key features

  • High Court buildings, district courts, bar buildings, and administrative offices.
  • Parking facilities for about 900 cars and 400 two-wheelers.
  • Interconnected buildings through bridges for smooth movement.
  • Advanced security, fire safety, and disaster-resilient design.
  • Dedicated facilities such as:
    • Separate bar room for women lawyers
    • Primary health centre
    • Dedicated approach road for the High Court

Debate and concerns

  • The relocation has faced opposition from sections of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association.
  • The CJI clarified that future needs of the judiciary and young lawyers must take precedence over vested interests.
  • Emphasised that infrastructure is being created for decades ahead, not short-term convenience.

Governance and constitutional relevance

  • Strengthens the justice delivery system, a core pillar of constitutional governance.
  • Linked to Article 39A (access to justice) and judicial reforms under e-Governance and court infrastructure modernisation.

Exam Hook 

Q. With reference to the Integrated Judicial Court Complex in North Guwahati, consider the following statements:

  1. It will house the principal seat of the Gauhati High Court serving multiple northeastern states.
  2. The project aims to integrate courts, lawyers, litigants and judicial services in a single campus.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c)

One-line wrap:
A future-ready judicial city in North Guwahati signals a long-term push for efficient, accessible and integrated justice in Northeast India.

Source

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Recent Posts

Start Yours at Ajmal IAS – with Mentorship StrategyDisciplineClarityResults that Drives Success

Your dream deserves this moment — begin it here.