Meghalaya High Court grants lawyers time to apologize in contempt case

The Meghalaya High Court has granted lawyers facing criminal contempt proceedings time to file affidavits tendering unconditional apologies. The proceedings were initiated following a call for abstention from judicial work starting October 1, 2026, by the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and the Shillong Bar Association. The legal strike was intended to demand the removal of Advocate General Amit Kumar.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew noted that the abstention has affected judicial work and left litigants unrepresented across the state. The court previously stated that lawyers have no right to strike as it interferes with the administration of justice.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has urged the legal fraternity to resolve their differences through dialogue. He stated that while the government must protect the functioning of the legal system, it also respects the concerns of the Bar Association and has attempted to mediate the situation.