Kohima: The Nagaland Bar Association set a firm September 13, 2026, deadline for the state government to appoint an Advocate General from within the local legal ranks. This ultimatum follows an executive committee resolution from June 8, which federation members supported. The group delivered their formal request to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on June 13.
Previous attempts to secure this appointment failed. The Bar claims past meetings with officials yielded no results. They put the government on notice. Failure to act by the deadline will trigger a boycott of the current Advocate General in both physical and virtual proceedings. "Failure in this regard will entail consequential action, including and not limited to, the boycott of the incumbent Advocate General in all proceedings, whether physical or virtual and other actions as may be appropriate," the resolution stated.
The association blasted the state for failing to hire locally six decades after statehood. They view the snub as a slur on the competence of Nagaland lawyers. The group insists that the judiciary deserves better than its current status as an unwanted organ. Beyond the legal appointment, the Bar highlighted the stalled construction of the new High Court Complex at Meriema. Work on the site began back in 2007. It remains unfinished nearly two decades later.
The NBA demands immediate resource allocation to finish the building. They believe the state must provide proper infrastructure for a functional judiciary. The lawyers expect the government to treat these issues as matters of public interest. They are waiting for a response.
Updated at 1st September 2026 at 10:00am
NBA president A. Zhimomi and secretary S. Keyho signed the memorandum submitted to the chief minister, who also serves as the minister in charge of Law and Justice. The association pointed out that since Nagaland gained statehood in 1963, no local lawyer has ever held the Advocate General post.
The Bar explicitly linked the government's inaction to a perceived lack of faith in the competence of local legal professionals. They argue that six decades of statehood should have been sufficient for the government to recognize the maturity of the state's own legal fraternity.
Updated at 1st September 2026 at 1:49pm
NBA president A. Zhimomi and secretary S. Keyho signed the formal memorandum delivered to the chief minister, who also holds the portfolio for Law and Justice. The association officially noted that the memorandum was endorsed to the current Advocate General to ensure he remains aware of the looming deadline.
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