Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court shut down contempt proceedings against a group of local advocates on Wednesday. The move came after the lawyers issued unconditional apologies for refusing to work. The boycott was sparked by a September 30 resolution from the Shillong Bar Association and the Meghalaya High Court Bar Association. These groups demanded the removal of the Advocate General. The strike started October 1 and spanned across the entire state.
Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew handled the case. The court issued notices on October 8 under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and Article 215 of the Constitution. Most lawyers appeared in court on October 13 to express regret. They promised to honor the rule of law. The bench noted that the lawyers "affirmed their respect for the court, the rule of law and the administration of justice."
Proceedings were dropped for Nurina N. Lyngdoh and Stevie R. Lyngdoh. They resigned their posts before the resolution hit the books. K.S. Kynjing and N. Syngkon also saw their cases tossed. Both filed affidavits proving they worked during the boycott. The bar associations officially ended the strike on October 9. The court accepted the apologies as sincere. The judges closed the petition and declared the majesty of law restored.
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