Shillong: Members of the Meghalaya High Court Bar Association are taking to the streets. They demand the immediate removal of Advocate General Amit Kumar. The legal group will hold a rally this Wednesday, October 7, to air their grievances against the top state lawyer.
The protest kicks off at 10.30 am. Participants will gather at the association premises before moving out to highlight their specific demands. They want the public to see why they think Kumar must go. The lawyers are calling on local media to document the event, specifically asking for coverage of the concerns and statements of participating members. In a statement released Tuesday, the association noted: "media participation and coverage would help ensure the issues receive public attention."
This rally serves as a platform to pressure the authorities. The association aims to place their demands firmly in the spotlight by engaging the press directly. They expect a significant turnout from the legal fraternity in Shillong.
Updated at 7th October 2026 at 10:30pm
The protest is part of a broader, ongoing standoff that hit a boiling point when lawyers started a statewide boycott of judicial work on October 1. While the boycott excludes urgent matters and bail hearings, the legal groups claim they were forced to take action because Kumar ignored government promises to step back from court appearances.
Kishore Gautam, a key figure in the agitation, told reporters that the Chief Minister had personally assured the association that Kumar would stop appearing in the High Court and state tribunals. Gautam claims he even flagged Kumar's continued appearances to the Chief Minister via WhatsApp and SMS after the deal was ignored. Representatives from bar associations across the state are now united in the boycott, with leaders planning to meet soon to plot their next move.
Kumar has previously dismissed the pressure, arguing that his appointment is a government decision and that he has every right to continue his private practice.
Updated at 8th October 2026 at 1:48am
The protest gained political teeth today as the Voice of the People Party (VPP) stepped into the fray. Party president Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit backed the lawyers, pointing to remarks the Advocate General allegedly made regarding the Bar's ability to protect its female members during a case involving an intern. Basaiawmoit slammed the comments as "highly insensitive and unacceptable."
Beyond the legal boycott, the VPP leveled fresh charges against the state government. Basaiawmoit accused the administration of wasting public funds by hiring outsiders instead of tapping into local legal talent. He further alleged that the Advocate General's office has been handing out appointments to close relatives. The party is now pushing for an independent inquiry into the office's spending and hiring practices, while demanding the appointment of a local senior advocate to the post.
Updated at 8th October 2026 at 9:47am
Hundreds of lawyers from across the state marched from the Kiang Nangbah statue through Barik Point, Malki Point, and Lachumiere before ending at the High Court. The group chanted slogans calling for Kumar to leave as the protest expanded beyond the association premises.
Kishore Gautam revealed the lawyers filed an RTI application seeking details on the office's spending, but the government denied the request after 30 days by invoking Section 8 of the RTI Act. The Bar is now appealing that denial. Gautam claims the state is funneling crores into the office, including the cost of housing out-of-state lawyers in five-star hotels, a stark contrast to spending under previous Advocate Generals.
The agitation has triggered a messy internal split within the High Court Bar Association. President K.S. Kynjing publicly questioned the way the protest is being handled, but his fellow members hit back, claiming they no longer recognize his leadership. Protesters dismissed Kynjing's objections, insisting the broader movement remains firmly behind the demand to oust Kumar.
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