The demand for the removal of Meghalaya Advocate General Amit Kumar intensified on Thursday as a large number of advocates, including male and female members of the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and Shillong/District Court Bar Association, took to the streets in a protest march carrying banners and placards demanding his removal from office.
The advocates marched from the High Court of Meghalaya towards the Secretariat, raising their concerns over the Advocate General's alleged remarks against the legal fraternity and other issues relating to the conduct of the State's legal affairs.
The protesters carried placards bearing messages including “AMIT GO BACK,” “Cease Your Defamatory Remarks Against the Bar Associations,” and “Stop Devaluing the Legal Professionals of Meghalaya by Hiring Outside Lawyer for Local Legal Disputes.” Other banners called for the immediate removal of Amit Kumar as Advocate General.
The protest marks a further escalation of the confrontation between the State's Bar associations and the Advocate General, which began following submissions allegedly made by Kumar during proceedings before the Meghalaya High Court.
The High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and Shillong Bar Association had earlier passed resolutions condemning what they described as defamatory and disparaging remarks against the Bar and its members.
Following an extraordinary general meeting held on August 5, the associations resolved to remove Kumar's name from their rolls and stated that their members would no longer recognise him as the Advocate General of Meghalaya.
The associations also issued a one-week ultimatum to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, demanding that the State Government formally remove Kumar from the post.
The Bar bodies have alleged that Kumar made remarks during a recent suo motu proceeding which, according to them, cast the legal fraternity in a derogatory light. They have also objected to what they described as an “offensive open letter” subsequently addressed to members of the legal fraternity.
The dispute has also expanded beyond the alleged remarks made during court proceedings.
The Bar associations have raised objections to the engagement of lawyers from outside Meghalaya to represent the State in various courts and tribunals. They have also questioned certain appointments of State counsel, alleging that some appointments involved family members and close acquaintances of the Advocate General.
The High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association has stated that it filed an RTI application seeking details regarding such appointments and the fee structures involved. The association has indicated that it would decide its further course of action after receiving the information.
The controversy surrounding the Advocate General is linked to proceedings before the Meghalaya High Court concerning the safety and dignity of women lawyers and law interns.
The issue arose against the backdrop of allegations by a woman law intern against an advocate and a subsequent incident in which the accused lawyer was allegedly assaulted and publicly paraded.
During the proceedings, Kumar reportedly raised concerns regarding the safety of women advocates and law interns and the responsibility of the Bar to ensure a safe working environment. The Bar associations subsequently objected to the manner in which they said the legal fraternity had been portrayed.
The Bar Council of Meghalaya has separately clarified that it received a complaint from a law intern alleging sexual harassment by an advocate and has assured that appropriate legal action would be taken.
The controversy took another turn when the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) urged the Meghalaya High Court Bar Association and Shillong Bar Association to reconsider and withdraw their resolution against Kumar.
The SCBA said the Advocate General's submissions should be viewed in the context of judicial proceedings concerning the safety and dignity of women advocates and law interns.
The Meghalaya Bar bodies, however, rejected the intervention and maintained their position, asserting that the SCBA should not interfere in their internal affairs.
The confrontation further intensified after Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma publicly backed the Advocate General.
On August 24, Sangma said he had not examined the detailed circumstances of the hearing or the statements attributed to Kumar but strongly praised his contribution to the State.
The Chief Minister said Meghalaya was “very lucky” to have Amit Kumar as its Advocate General and highlighted his role in advising the government on crucial legal matters and helping departments overcome legal hurdles.
Sangma also said Kumar had the option of practising independently in Delhi or before the Supreme Court but had chosen to serve Meghalaya.
The Chief Minister's support has come despite the Bar associations' continuing demand for Kumar's removal.
Thursday's large-scale march demonstrates that the dispute has now moved beyond resolutions and representations and into a visible public mobilisation by members of the legal fraternity.
With the Bar associations maintaining their demand for Kumar's removal and the State Government publicly backing the Advocate General, the standoff between the Meghalaya legal fraternity and the government-appointed law officer is likely to remain a major issue in the State's legal circles.
The Bar associations have made clear that they expect action within the one-week deadline issued to the Chief Minister and have indicated that further steps may follow if their demand is not addressed.
The developments come as the associations continue to maintain that their protest is aimed at protecting the dignity and reputation of Meghalaya's legal fraternity and raising concerns over the functioning of the State's legal affairs.
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