Major Progress in Demand for Permanent High Court Bench in Barak Valley

High Court Bench Demand Committee Press Conference Silchar

Silchar, April 29:

The long-standing aspiration of over 40 lakh people in Barak Valley has moved a step closer to reality. The High Court Bench Demand Implementation Committee announced on Tuesday that the Assam Government has officially forwarded the proposal to the Gauhati High Court for further action.

Addressing a press conference at the Rupam office in Silchar, Advocate Dhruba Kumar Saha, President of the Cachar district unit of the committee, stated that this marks a historic milestone in their decade-old struggle. He highlighted that residents of the valley currently endure immense financial and geographical hardships, traveling over 300 km to Guwahati for legal hearings.

"Justice should be accessible and affordable. For too long, the common man in Barak Valley has been deprived of timely justice due to the sheer distance from the principal seat of the High Court," said Advocate Saha.

Government Proposal Reaches Gauhati High Court

The Chief Secretary of the Government of Assam has formally sent the recommendation to the Gauhati High Court. This move is expected to trigger the necessary administrative and legal evaluations required to establish a permanent or circuit bench in the region. The committee noted that this decentralization is essential for ensuring the fundamental right to justice.

Taimur Raja Choudhury, Advisor to the committee and Editor of 'Samayik Prasanga', added that the bench could be set up at any suitable location within the valley. He emphasized that an early intervention by the Governor could further expedite the process, bringing relief to thousands of litigants in Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi.

The Burden of Pending Litigation

Providing a statistical perspective, senior lawyer Dharmananda Deb revealed that there are currently 4,378 pending cases from Barak Valley in the Gauhati High Court. The establishment of a local bench would not only reduce the massive backlog but also save significant time, money, and effort for the general public.

Legal experts and social activists believe that this administrative progress is a positive sign for the region's judicial infrastructure. As the Cachar Times continues to monitor this development, the people of the valley remain hopeful that the legal distance between Silchar and Guwahati will soon be bridged by a permanent bench.