CJI Lays Foundation for ₹479 Cr Guwahati High Court Complex, Emphasizes Accessible Justice

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Chief Justice of India Surya Kant emphasized the importance of making the law accessible to all, laying the foundation stone for a ₹479 crore integrated judicial complex in Guwahati. The new complex, which will house 31 courtrooms, is part of a larger project that will also include a judicial township with 65 courtrooms. The CJI stressed that the law must never appear remote, forbidding or out of reach, and prioritized the development of infrastructure that empowers young lawyers. The Guwahati High Court, which caters to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram, will be relocated from its current location at Uzanbazar to the new complex in Rangmahal. Despite opposition from over 1,300 lawyers associated with the Gauhati High Court Bar Association, the CJI appealed to the state government and the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court to ensure that young lawyers, regardless of socio-economic background or professional seniority, are provided space in the new complex to practice their profession. The new complex is expected to improve access to justice for thousands of litigants across the region, who currently face logistical burdens due to the existing location. The CJI also emphasized the need for integrated court complexes with adequate space for young lawyers, saying that it is not just an architectural concept, but a system that works as a whole. The project, which will be built in phases, is expected to cost a total of ₹1,706 crore, including the judicial township. Once completed, the high court will be relocated from its current location, providing a modern and futuristic infrastructure for the region.