Shillong’s streets turned black and white on Thursday as more than 1,000 lawyers marched in a powerful show of unity, demanding the removal of Meghalaya Advocate General Amit Kumar. The agitation was triggered by alleged remarks made by the Advocate General during court proceedings, besides concerns over other decisions attributed to his office. The protest also saw lawyers allege that Meghalaya was being treated as a “cash cow”, with questions raised over the substantial expenditure on the Advocate General and his team from outside the State.
In a rare display of solidarity, lawyers who routinely argue against one another in courtrooms and contest professional elections came together, setting aside differences to raise a common voice against Kumar’s continuation in office.
The rally, organised with the participation of the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association, Shillong Bar Association and various district bar associations, began near the U Kiang Nangbah statue and passed through Barik and Malki Point. Lawyers from Garo Hills, Jaintia Hills and other parts of the State also extended support to the agitation. Effigies of the Advocate General were burnt during the demonstration.
Addressing the media after the rally, High Court Bar Association general secretary KC Gautam said the agitation was triggered by alleged remarks made by the Advocate General during court proceedings, besides concerns over other decisions attributed to his office.
Gautam said the bar associations had the authority to take action against their own members but could not remove the Advocate General, as the appointment was made by the Governor on the advice of the government.
“We have the power to remove our members, but as an advocate general, he is appointed by the government,” the Advocate said.
“Only the government can remove is him. It is the governor who appoint him, but it’s the ruling dispensation who appoints the Advocate General,” he added.
The lawyers have already passed a resolution seeking Kumar’s removal. Gautam said the legal fraternity was particularly disappointed that its representatives had not been given an opportunity to meet Chief Minister Conrad Sangma over the issue.
He also questioned the government’s decision to appoint an Advocate General from outside the State, arguing that Meghalaya had sufficient senior lawyers capable of handling cases before courts, including the Supreme Court.
“There is no reason for the ruling dispensation to appoint somebody all the way from Delhi, we have competent lawyers,” the lawyer said.
Gautam alleged that the State was spending a substantial amount of money on Kumar and other lawyers from outside Meghalaya at a time when the government was facing financial pressures in meeting obligations such as salaries and pensions.
“Meghalaya is used as a cash cow, the amount of money which has been spend on Amit Kumar and his team is huge.”
He further alleged that lawyers associated with Kumar’s Delhi chamber were appearing in matters involving the Meghalaya government, which he said was depriving local advocates of opportunities.
“They are not members of the bar also and depriving our own members, our lawyers, local lawyers from here of opportunities,” Advocate KC Gautam said.
The bar association secretary-general also referred to what he described as other “anomalies”, including appointments involving representation of the State before the Supreme Court, and said the associations had been seeking information through RTI applications.
Gautam maintained that Meghalaya was not short of legal talent, pointing to the long history of the Shillong Bar Association and the presence of experienced senior advocates in the State.
“We have great seniors in Shillong, we have been here,” he added.
He said the legal fraternity’s concerns had been compounded by the Chief Minister’s earlier public assertion that Meghalaya was fortunate to have Kumar as its Advocate General.
“This has hurt our sentiments even more, we demanded removal of a person saying that he has made certain statements in the court and also he other anomalies, which we have pointed out. But instead of paying heed to our demand, Chief Minister gone on to say that we are lucky to have Amit Kumar, so that in fact, it’s like pouring more fuels to the fire,” he added.
The rally ended with the lawyers reiterating that their protest was not against the office of the Advocate General but against the continuation of Kumar in the post, and that their demand represented the collective position of the State’s legal fraternity.
“So there is no dert of Talent in the state, for whatever reason,” he said.
“Chief minister and the ruling dispensation wants to have Amit Kumar that is known to them, but we, once again, reiterate our demand we do not want Amit Kumar to be our Advocate General,” the Bar council member added.
