Shillong, Aug 3: The Meghalaya High Court has directed the Bar Council of Meghalaya and the Bar Council of India to file within two weeks their plans to ensure the safety of women lawyers and interns.
A division bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh was hearing a petition linked to the alleged assault of advocate AH Hazarika by HNYF members.
During the hearing on Monday, the High Court linked the assault case to larger issues of safety of women lawyers, bringing the Bar Council of India and Meghalaya into the case to frame safeguards for women advocates and interns.
The court accepted the Bar’s assurance to set up drop boxes for sexual harassment complaints in all associations this week, so that the grievances pertaining to sexual harassment of women advocates and interns, can be addressed.
The Bar Council of Meghalaya told the court they met on July 31 and are concerned about the safety and dignity of women lawyers and lady interns.
The case relates to allegations that Hazarika molested a law intern in his chamber and offered her Rs 500 as hush money after she resisted.
