Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Surya Kant laid the foundation stone for a new integrated Judicial Court Complex at Rangmahal in North Guwahati, while terming it as a crucial move to modernise judicial infrastructure in the North East and prepare the institution for the needs of the coming decades.
Envisaged as a full-fledged judicial township, the ambitious project is planned as the proposed principal seat of the Gauhati High Court, which exercises jurisdiction over Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland.
The ceremony, attended by Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, witnessed the participation of judges of the Supreme Court and various High Courts, senior officials, and other dignitaries.
According to officials, the proposed Rangmahal campus will be built across 148 bighas, roughly 49 acres, in Kamrup district. Phase I alone is expected to cost around Rs 479 cr, highlighting the scale and seriousness of the investment being made. The project, Government sources said, is intended to create a centralised and integrated judicial environment where courts, offices, and allied facilities function seamlessly together.
Addressing the gathering after unveiling the foundation stone, Justice Surya Kant struck a firm note on the controversy surrounding the project. Expressing surprise over the resistance, he said opposition stemming mainly from personal inconvenience should not obstruct long-term institutional planning. “Those opposing the new court complex are either ill-informed or not realising the needs of new members of the Bar. Personal vested interests should not be valid grounds for opposing infrastructure meant for the future,” the CJI remarked, urging stakeholders to view the development through the lens of future requirements rather than present-day comfort zones.
Justice Kant described the integrated Judicial Court Complex as forward-looking and aligned with the evolving aspirations of the judiciary.
“Rangmahal site had been chosen strategically to bring all essential judicial functions under one roof,” he stated, adding, the idea is not only to create a modern, secure, and efficient work environment, but also to enhance access to justice by improving mobility, coordination and administrative efficiency within the court ecosystem.
Officials said the proposed complex, once completed, will accommodate the principal bench of the Gauhati High Court along with district court buildings, High Court administrative offices, and dedicated facilities for the Bar. In a significant upgrade from the current limitations, the campus plan also includes parking capacity for about 900 cars and 400 two-wheelers—an issue that has long been a challenge at the existing court premises.
Further, the design features several modern additions. All buildings will be connected through bridges, allowing safer and smoother movement of judges, lawyers, litigants and staff across the complex. The project is planned with modern security arrangements, fire safety systems, and disaster-resilient infrastructure—features that have become essential in contemporary public buildings, particularly those that handle sensitive and high-volume civic functions.
Calling upon senior members of the Bar to support the initiative, the CJI urged collective responsibility to dismantle geographical monopolies and ensure the early completion of the complex.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “A section of lawyers is opposing the new complex. In a democracy, a Government should respect all opposition. But, their main contention that it will take two hours to reach the new site will not hold ground after the Guwahati-North Guwahati bridge over the Brahmaputra is inaugurated by the Prime Minister in February.”
He further added that driving time from Dighalipukhuri area of Guwahai, near which the High Court is at present situated, to Rangmahal will be around 20-25 minutes through the new bridge, “Post-March 1, we will accept whether our decision to build the new integrated complex at Rangmahal is correct or wrong.”
Sarma, who had started his professional life as a lawyer at the Gauhati High Court, said, “Present building cannot meet the requirements of the future. With time, aspirations change. We need to move forward. Our attempt is that this new complex reflects our new Assam.”
The Chief Minister announced the State Government will be spending a total of ₹1,700 cr for the project.
