Rising Demand for High Court Bench in Barak Valley

Special Correspondent

Silchar: After raising demand for High Court bench in Barak Valley by the lawyers’ associations of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi separately, now a concerted move is on to impress the Acting Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court and the Chief Minister of Assam. With this objective, the Barak Valley Coordination Committee of Lawyers has been formed to carry forward the agenda to its ultimate culmination. Public opinion in general is also being recorded on the issue.

A person who has to contest his case in Gauhati High Court has to undertake long and arduous journey which is both expensive and time consuming. It is also taxing on him, physically and mentally. After the upgradation of Lakhipur as a sub division in Cachar, Chief Judicial Magistrate Court has been set up at Lakhipur for the convenience of litigants. Keeping the convenience of mentally agitated persons involved in cases in mind, president of Karimganj Lawyers’ Association Abdur Rashid Choudhury, told the media-persons that everyone can not afford to travel to Guwahati and contest the cases. Most of the litigants are economically weak.

Abdur Rashid said that he was at Guwahati to attend the meet of the senior citizens of Barak Valley at the initiative of the Speaker of the Assembly and took the opportunity to meet the Acting Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court and the Chief Minister of Assam on July 30. He took up the issue of the Bench with them. The Acting Chief Justice did appreciate the justification behind the demand. The Chief Minister too found enough ground to support the demand of Barak people. Sarbananda Sonowal is sympathetic towards the cause of Barak and this has led him to decide having mini secretariat there. Choudhury claimed that 40% cases in High Court are from this valley.

Abdur Rashid Choudhury said that Chief Minister has no objection to have Bench in Barak. But, for that the assent of the High Court and the Centre has to be sought, he was told. After the appointment of regular Chief Justice, around 2000 lawyers of the three districts would make joint appeal on the raging public demand and expect a positive outcome, considering the difficult terrain and topography of the valley.

He also discussed with the Chief Minister the issue of inclusion of Bengali in the Judicial Services Examination and compensatory allowances for the debutant lawyers who have to struggle hard for five years to get cases and also pension for those who attain the age of 60. Choudhury also raised the issue of setting up new FTs at Karimganj and Hailakandi. He objected to the decision of the State to have all the proposed 10 FTs in Silchar.

Also Read: Assam Legislative Assembly Devotes A Day For Barak Valley