Meghalaya Bar associations seek removal of Advocate General Amit Kumar

A dispute has escalated between Meghalaya's legal fraternity and Advocate General Amit Kumar. The High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and the Shillong Bar Association have passed a joint resolution seeking Kumar's removal from his constitutional post. The associations have also removed him from their rolls and stated they will no longer recognize him as the state's top law officer.

The conflict stems from remarks made by Kumar during proceedings in the Meghalaya High Court regarding a case involving the alleged assault of an advocate. The associations objected to Kumar's submissions, which suggested that Bar associations had failed to adequately ensure the safety and secure working environment for women lawyers.

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has intervened, urging the Meghalaya-based associations to withdraw their resolution. The SCBA stated that Kumar's remarks were made in the context of serious allegations raised by a woman law intern and were intended to acknowledge the need for safe and dignified spaces for women in the profession. The SCBA noted that seeking action for submissions made during judicial proceedings is “unwarranted” and could aggravate the dispute.