BAR ASSOCIATIONS RALLY DEMANDS REMOVAL OF ADVOCATE GENERAL

Members of the Meghalaya High Court Bar Association, Shillong Bar Association and representatives of various district bar associations on Wednesday took out a rally in Shillong, reiterating their demand for the removal of Advocate General Amit Kumar.
Addressing the media after the rally, Meghalaya High Court Bar Association General Secretary K.C. Gautam said the legal fraternity had been raising the issue for some time and had previously held meetings with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and the Deputy Chief Minister.
Gautam said assurances had been given that Amit Kumar would not appear before the High Court, subordinate courts, tribunals or other forums in Meghalaya. However, he alleged that Kumar subsequently continued to appear in courts, including the High Court and district courts.
He said the association had brought the matter to the notice of the Chief Minister after such appearances were reported. Following this, the bar associations decided to intensify their agitation and organise this rally.
According to Gautam, representatives from several bar associations across the State participated in the rally to demonstrate their collective support for the demand.
“Our demand remains the same. We want the removal of Mr Amit Kumar,” he said, questioning why repeated representations and meetings had not resulted in any concrete decision.
Gautam said the associations would meet again to decide their next course of action and indicated that further forms of agitation could be considered. He said the ongoing court boycott was also affecting litigants and the legal fraternity.
On the issue of expenditure incurred by the Office of the Advocate General, Gautam said the association had sought information through the Right to Information Act regarding public funds spent on the office, including expenditure on outstation lawyers.
Gautam alleged that significant public funds were being spent on the Advocate General’s office and outstation lawyers and maintained that details of such expenditure should be available to the public.
Maintaining that the issue had now reached a stage where court proceedings were being affected, Gautam said the associations would collectively decide on their future course of action after consultations with representatives of the various bar associations.

BYTE: K.C. GAUTAM, GENERAL SECRETARY, HIGH COURT BAR ASSOCIATION

Source & Wire Service: Prasar Bharati SHABD (DD / Akashvani News)