Shillong, Aug 31: Lawyers across Meghalaya will abstain from judicial work from September 1 as the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and the Shillong Bar Association have decided to intensify their demand for the removal of Advocate General Amit Kumar.
The decision was taken at an emergent joint executive committee meeting held today, pursuant to a resolution adopted by the joint general body of all bar associations in the state on August 24.
The associations said the move comes after the state government failed to respond to their representation seeking the Advocate General’s removal, which they linked to damage caused to the dignity, welfare and interests of the bar by his actions and conduct.
According to the resolution, all advocates practising before courts and tribunals in Meghalaya shall abstain from work with effect from September 1.
The abstention will continue until the state government removes Kumar from the office of Advocate General. Bail matters have been exempted from the boycott.
The spark that lit the fuse for the advocates was a remark made by Kumar during a court proceeding. Referring to a case of sexual harassment by a senior lawyer towards a junior, Kumar said that there are many such cases within the legal fraternity in Shillong. However, the two associations have said that they are unaware of any more instances of sexual harassment and Kumar refused to share details with them when asked. This, the lawyers opined, has portrayed Meghalaya’s legal fraternity in a poor light.
Other criticisms of Kumar include state expenditure on engaging outside lawyers from Delhi for “small matters” and the appointment of Kumar’s son as a state panel advocate in the Supreme Court.
The lawyers had taken the unprecedented step of marching through the city in protest against Kumar last week. However, their opposition has so far not swayed the government, with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma saying that Meghalaya was “lucky” to have an Advocate General like Kumar.
