Shillong: Shillong Bar Association and High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association members returned to work on October 16. They ended their court abstention to stop friction with the judiciary. The lawyers stress they still have zero issues with the courts. Their battle with the government remains active.
SBA secretary TL Jyrwa confirmed the change in strategy. "The agitation has not been called off. Only the mode has changed," Jyrwa said. The lawyers will plot their next move once the Puja vacation wraps up.
The legal teams demand fair, merit-based hiring for state counsel. They want local lawyers to get a fair shot at these jobs. Past meetings with Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on September 2 and Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on September 16 led nowhere. The government released the Meghalaya Panel Advocate (Empanelment and Engagement) Guidelines, 2026, the same day they spoke with the Chief Minister.
Lawyers claim these rules hand too much power to Advocate General Amit Kumar. The associations filed PIL No. 23 of 2026 on October 16 to challenge the guidelines. The court will hear the petition on November 5. Meanwhile, the group is filing for information through the Right to Information Act after the government denied their initial request. Jyrwa insists this is about dignity, transparency, and how the state spends public money.
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