Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere will hear a petition this Friday regarding the public humiliation of advocate AH Hazarika. Vigilantes dragged Hazarika through the streets of Shillong with his hands on his ears. This happened after he faced accusations of molesting a female intern at his Keating Road chamber on Tuesday afternoon.
The intern reported that Hazarika lured her into a separate room to collect case books before molesting her. She resisted and broke free. He touched her inappropriately again and offered her 500 rupees to keep quiet. She left the money and fled to file an FIR at the Sadar Police Station.
The Shillong Bar Association suspended Hazarika following an emergency meeting on July 29. They issued a show-cause notice and await findings from the police and the State Bar Council. Association secretary TL Jyrwa condemned the street justice. "Such acts amount to taking the law into one's own hands and are unacceptable as they undermine the rule of law and constitutional governance," Jyrwa stated.
The High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association also expressed grave concern. They joined the Shillong Bar Association in condemning the assault. The groups want an impartial investigation into both the molestation claim and the vigilante attack. The court will now weigh the legal process against these acts of public retribution.
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