Silchar: The decades-old demand for a permanent bench of the Gauhati High Court in Barak Valley resurfaced on Friday, as members of the High Court Bench Demand Implementation Committee renewed their appeal for action to improve access to justice in the region.Addressing the media at the District Bar Association building, advocate Dharmananda Deb said litigants and lawyers from Cachar, Sribhumi and Hailakandi districts face severe hardships travelling to Guwahati, the principal seat of the HC. “The long distance makes justice both difficult and expensive. A permanent Bench in Barak Valley would ease accessibility and improve efficiency,” he said.Deb also questioned the practicality of the digital systems such as e-filing and virtual hearings, citing irregular electricity supply and unstable internet connectivity across the valley.Over the years, the demand was first made in 1980s with repeated memorandums, rallies, and campaigns for years. Advocate Drubha Kumar Saha said a delegation recently submitted a memorandum to two Gauhati HC judges. While acknowledging technological advances, he said many cases still require in-person verification and appearances.Saha said a bench would help reduce pending cases and speed up disposal. He pointed out that despite minister Kaushik Rai’s earlier indication of govt consideration, no concrete steps have been taken. An intellectual meet on the issue is scheduled for March 28.Advocate Swarnali Ghosh highlighted that nearly 40% of pending cases in the Gauhati HC originate from Barak Valley, highlighting the region’s dependence on the principal seat. Advocate Niladri Roy stressed the need to decentralise judicial institutions to ensure quicker resolution of cases, particularly at a time when courts across the country are grappling with rising pendency.Other advocates present — Yasmin Ali Barbhuiya, Dipak Chakraborty, Prasenjit Deb, Debabrata Das and Dipak Kumar Deb — expressed hope that the longstanding demand would finally gain momentum.
