Kohima: The High Court Bar Association in Kohima pledged full support to the Nagaland Bar Association during a general meeting held on September 15. Members are backing the NBA’s demand for the state to appoint a local lawyer as the next Advocate General. A three-month deadline set for Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to address the issue passed on September 13.
Lawyers are currently boycotting all proceedings involving Advocate General KN Balgopal. This protest follows a September 3 resolution targeting Balgopal for comments he allegedly made during a Supreme Court session on September 1. The NBA expressed “extreme concern” regarding his remark that “Nagaland has only two types of employment-one is Government job and the other is underground job.”
The boycott covers both virtual and physical appearances. The HCBA is telling government panel advocates and state departments to stop assisting the Advocate General in court. Opposition remains, however, as Additional AGs and panel advocates at the Gauhati High Court have rejected the calls for Balgopal’s termination.
The meeting also addressed gender representation. Members discussed a Supreme Court case regarding a 30 percent reservation for women in bar associations. To bolster leadership, the HCBA increased its executive committee size to 12 members and confirmed the prior nominations of Inaholi Wotsa and Krovino Tsükrü Renboni Kikon. Administrative reports were presented by Tongpok Pongener, Joshua Sheqi, Pfosekho Pfotte, and V. Zhimomi.
Comments