Members of the Gauhati High Court Bar Association (GHCBA) began a three-day hunger strike on Thursday to protest the Assam government’s plan to relocate the high court complex to North Guwahati.

Led by GHCBA president KN Choudhury, the strike commenced at 10 am in front of the court’s historic Uzan Bazar building. It is scheduled to continue for six hours daily on Friday and Sunday. The protest follows an emergency general meeting held on Tuesday, during which the association issued a statement vowing a “peaceful and democratic expression” of opposition.

The bar association has consistently opposed shifting the principal seat from its current location in central Guwahati, citing concerns for stakeholders and the public. Previous resolutions and a referendum had reaffirmed this position.

In a show of defiance, the GHCBA announced it will boycott the foundation stone-laying ceremony for the new complex, planned for January 11 by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. The proposed judicial township at Rangmahal spans 129 bighas (over 42.5 acres), with the state cabinet approving Rs 479 crore for the first phase in November 2025.

The government has justified the relocation, citing plans to develop the Brahmaputra riverfront, which require acquiring the existing high court land. The current site comprises a historic building opposite a modern multi-storey structure, connected by an underground tunnel with escalators.

The GHCBA has repeatedly urged the government to halt the project immediately.