Shillong: More than 1,000 lawyers marched through Shillong on Thursday. They want Advocate General Amit Kumar fired. The High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and the Shillong Bar Association led the walk. The group moved from the High Court premises past the U Kiang Nangbah statue before looping back. Lawyers from Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills backed the movement.
Court work stopped across the Garo Hills. Sit-in protests erupted in Resubelpara, Ampati, Baghmara, Phulbari, Dadenggre, and Williamnagar. In Tura, over 250 lawyers gathered at 10 am. Most were women. They shouted, "Amit Kumar – Go back" at the Tura Sessions Court. Tura Bar Association president Devorsi G. Momin led the local group.
The legal fraternity is angry about Kumar’s remarks during court proceedings. He allegedly insulted women's safety in the Bar without proof. Lawyers also blasted Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma for calling the state lucky to have Kumar. High Court Bar Association secretary-general K.C. Gautam said, "This is the first time in history that lawyers of the state have come out onto the streets in such large numbers."
Protesters have raised alarms over several issues. They oppose hiring Delhi lawyers with public money. They question the appointment of Kumar’s son as a state panel advocate. They also dislike having an outsider in the top legal post. Tura Bar Association vice-president Paul Paske said the Advocate General fails to understand the state’s matrilineal structure. Secretary Brilliant Sangma confirmed the local groups want the same result as the capital. The lawyers plan to keep pushing until Kumar is replaced by someone who knows local laws.
Updated at 28th August 2026 at 5:51pm
High Court Bar Association secretary-general K.C. Gautam stated that the associations submitted formal resolutions and a detailed representation to the government but were denied an audience with the Chief Minister. While Kumar reportedly expressed regret regarding the reporting of his comments, lawyers rejected the gesture as insufficient and not a genuine apology.
The dispute has broadened to include a local newspaper, which the bar associations accuse of falsely reporting that lawyers opposed Kumar because he supported a female intern. In response, the associations have boycotted the publication, refused to represent it in court, and are considering legal action against the outlet.
The legal teams are now moving to force financial transparency. They intend to file Right to Information applications to track spending by the Advocate General and his team. Following the protest march, the demonstrators delivered their memorandum to the Governor.
Updated at 29th August 2026 at 5:46am
The state government is stonewalling. During a session on Friday, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma refused to take a clear stand on the removal of the Advocate General. Sangma claimed the matter is sub judice due to cases pending in the High Court and insisted it would be improper for the government to issue a statement. Opposition Leader Mukul Sangma challenged that assertion, pointing out that public reporting shows no such legal barrier and demanding the government address the grievances of the lawyers.
The dispute has also entangled the local press. Bar associations are boycotting a newspaper they claim misrepresented their motivations, accusing the outlet of falsely reporting that lawyers were protesting because the Advocate General had supported a female intern. The lawyers maintain that this coverage ignored the substance of their complaints, and they are now weighing legal action against the publication.
The battle for accountability is shifting toward the ledger. Bar associations are preparing to file Right to Information applications to force the Advocate General to disclose spending by his office, including costs related to hiring lawyers from outside the state for minor cases.
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