Shillong, Sep 1: The Meghalaya government will examine the concerns raised by the Shillong Bar Association and High Court Bar Association over the functioning of the Advocate General’s office, Law Minister Lahkmen Rymbui informed today.
The two bar associations began abstaining from court proceedings today over their grievances concerning the Advocate General Amit Kumar and the functioning of his office.
Rymbui said he stepped in after being informed about the lawyers’ protest and asked his secretary to meet representatives of the two associations. The representatives subsequently met the minister and placed their concerns before him.
According to Rymbui, the lawyers raised several issues, including those related to Kumar, recommendations for standing counsel and the engagement of persons from outside the state.
The minister said he would take up the concerns with the Advocate General and examine the issues raised by the lawyers.
He, however, said any decision on the matter would require careful consideration as the Advocate General holds a constitutional post and is appointed by the council of ministers.
Rymbui said the government could not act hastily without first examining the allegations and understanding the issues raised by the bar associations.
He added that if the concerns were found to be genuine, the government would consider appropriate remedial measures. At the same time, the minister appealed to the lawyers to ensure that the protest did not adversely affect litigants.
The advocates were aggrieved when Kumar, during a court hearing, referred to a case of sexual harassment by a senior lawyer towards a junior and 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, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma stood by the state’s top lawyer, saying that Meghalaya was “lucky” to have an Advocate General like Kumar.
