SCBA urges Meghalaya bar bodies to withdraw resolution against Advocate General Amit Kumar

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has urged the Meghalaya High Court Bar Association and the Shillong Bar Association to reconsider and withdraw their joint resolution seeking action against Meghalaya Advocate General Amit Kumar.

The SCBA said the resolution, passed in the context of Kumar’s submissions before the Meghalaya High Court on the safety and dignity of women advocates and law interns, was unwarranted since the issue was already being considered by the Court.

The statement came after the two Meghalaya bar associations passed a joint resolution on Thursday expelling Kumar from their rolls and calling for his removal as Advocate General. The associations had taken exception to his alleged remarks that bar associations had failed to provide a safe environment for women lawyers.

The SCBA, however, said the context in which the remarks were made needed to be taken into account.

It noted that Kumar, while appearing as Advocate General, had informed the Meghalaya High Court about the action taken in the case and submitted that while the safety of members of the bar must be protected, equal attention must be given to the safety and dignity of women advocates and law interns.

The SCBA said that since these submissions were made during judicial proceedings in a matter already before the Meghalaya High Court, seeking action against the Advocate General for those submissions was unwarranted.

The association also expressed concern that the resolution could further escalate the controversy.

The SCBA has therefore urged the concerned bar associations to withdraw the resolution and instead work towards an effective and confidential mechanism through which women advocates and law interns can raise grievances and seek redressal.

It said the safety and dignity of every member of the legal profession must remain a collective responsibility of the Bar.

The controversy arose during proceedings before the Meghalaya High Court concerning the alleged physical assault and public parading of an advocate in Shillong. The advocate had earlier been accused of molesting a law intern.

During the proceedings, the High Court also expressed concern over the failure of the police to act despite being present when the incident occurred.

The bar associations subsequently approached the High Court, raising concerns over the incident and the safety of lawyers. The matter later led to the Advocate General’s submissions concerning the need to protect women advocates and interns.