In a major step toward deciding their collective stand, the Gauhati High Court Bar Association has announced that it will conduct a secret ballot from December 8 to December 12 to determine whether lawyers support or oppose the state government’s plan to shift the High Court to Rangmahal in North Guwahati.
The proposal to relocate the High Court has become one of the most debated issues in the legal community. The state government has maintained that the move is part of its long-term development plan. However, a large section of lawyers has raised concerns, saying the shift will create serious practical difficulties for thousands of advocates who have been working in the current premises for years.
The Bar Association, which has openly expressed its reservation on the relocation, said that this voting process is necessary to arrive at a fair and collective decision. The association stated that the secret ballot will allow every member to express their opinion freely, without pressure from any side. 
According to the association, more than 5,550 registered advocates will be eligible to vote. This makes the exercise one of the largest internal voting processes held by the Bar in recent years. Many lawyers have said that they spent years building their chambers in Guwahati and that moving to North Guwahati would disrupt their practice and increase travel challenges. Several advocates also pointed out that daily commuting across the river would not only be time-consuming but also costly, especially for younger lawyers who have limited resources.
The Bar Association said that the outcome of the vote will guide its future course of action. While discussions on the relocation have been ongoing for months, this ballot will be the first formal attempt to record the opinion of every member. The association urged all advocates to participate in the process so that the final decision reflects the true voice of the legal fraternity.
