PIL challenges Govt notification on empanelment of state counsels
Shillong, Oct 17: Lawyers in Meghalaya have announced resumption of their agitation demanding removal of the Advocate General Amit Kumar while also moving the court against new government guidelines that further empowered the AG.
The Shillong Bar Association (SBA) and High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association (HCMBA) have filed a PIL challenging the state government’s September 16 notification to implement the Meghalaya Panel Advocate (Empanelment & Engagement) Guidelines, 2026.
“We listened to all members on how the agitation should proceed. It was unanimously decided we will continue,” SBA assistant secretary N Shyambor Singh Marpan said after at general body meeting of the association on Friday.
Marpan said the Bar first met Deputy Chief Minister on September 2, who assured that AG Amit Kumar would not appear in court for two weeks and the assurance was complied with.
“Before expiry, the Chief Minister called us to his residence on September 16 and in same tone said he will look into the matter. He sought two weeks till October 7. We agreed and paused our abstention,” he said.
However, the AG allegedly violated the understanding.
“After September 16, Amit Kumar appeared not only in High Court but in other courts also, completely violating the arrangement made with the CM and us. So on September 30, we called a meeting and decided to switch back to abstention,” Marpan said.
He said the government on the same day of the CM’s meeting issued the controversial guidelines.
“We came to know much later that on September 16 itself the government notified the Meghalaya Panel Advocate Guidelines, 2026. If you go through it, it gives full power to AG to empanel, de-empanel or remove anyone from the panel. We don’t know the motive,” Marpan said.
A PIL, filed two days ago, seeks to quash the notification and to put in place a fair, transparent, merit-based procedure for empanelment of state counsels. It also seeks information on an RTI application filed on August 10, 2026.
“We have filed a PIL challenging the notification and other empanelment notifications. Since it is sub-judice, we will not go into depth,” he said.
Shillong Bar secretary TL Jyrwa said frustration forced the Bars to abstain from work.
“One person can appoint and misuse office by discarding competency and availability of local lawyers. Despite genuine grievance to the government, we were compelled to go for abstention,” Jyrwa said.
He said on October 9, the joint executive committees of both Bars decided to change the mode of protest.
“After more than six days of abstention 2.0, we reviewed for the interest of courts and all stakeholders. We decided to withdraw abstention and look for a sustainable mode. Agitation has not been called off, only mode changed. Members are united as it is for the general cause of Bar and public funds are involved,” Jyrwa said.
The next phase of agitation will be announced after Puja vacation, when courts reopen.
“High Court will be on Puja vacation the whole week and district courts for two-three days. After that we will revive agitation with a mode (that will be more sustainable) and members and the public will be informed,” he added.
