Silchar: In a key legal and administrative move, a detailed 112-page additional memorandum was submitted on Wednesday to the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, strengthening the long-standing demand for a permanent High Court Bench in Barak Valley.

The memorandum was filed by the High Court Bench Demand Implementation Committee, Cachar District Unit, as a continuation of its earlier representation dated January 12, 2026. It lays out a comprehensive, data-backed account of the difficulties faced by litigants from the Barak Valley in accessing justice.

According to the submission, people from the region often travel 350 to 400 km to Guwahati to attend court proceedings. This distance, coupled with poor connectivity and frequent natural disruptions like floods and landslides, creates serious barriers, especially for economically weaker and rural populations.

The memorandum argues that such conditions affect timely access to justice. It invokes Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution, stating that equality before law and the right to life lose meaning if justice is not practically accessible.

Citing Supreme Court observations, the document stresses the need to decentralize judicial infrastructure. It says over-centralization leads to inequality, while regional benches can improve efficiency and fairness in the justice system.

The committee also pointed out that the Assam Government has already sought the opinion of the Gauhati High Court on the matter. With both administrative and judicial processes now active, the latest submission is being seen as a significant push at a crucial stage.

The memorandum recalls that the demand is decades old. It was raised in Parliament, including a Lok Sabha discussion on May 22, 2012, under Rule 377. It also refers to a 1991 Rajya Sabha reply by then Union Law Minister Dr. Subramanian Swamy, who had noted the absence of a formal proposal from the state at the time.

Highlighting the scale of the issue, the document states that Cachar, Sribhumi, and Hailakandi together have a population of about 4.5 million, rising to nearly 4.75 million if Dima Hasao is included. It argues that ensuring access to justice for such a population is both a constitutional duty and an administrative necessity.

The memorandum also cites the example of the Calcutta High Court’s bench at Jalpaiguri, set up considering distance and case load. It claims that Barak Valley presents equally strong, if not stronger, grounds for a similar move.

It further mentions a 2016 Private Member’s Bill that proposed setting up a permanent bench at Silchar, indicating sustained political and legal support for the demand.

The document was signed and submitted by senior advocate Dharmananda Deb on behalf of the committee.

Observers believe that the timing of the submission, along with the state government’s involvement, could prove decisive, bringing the long-pending demand for a High Court Bench in Barak Valley closer to a resolution.