Shillong, October 13: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday acknowledged concerns raised by the Meghalaya Bar Association, Shillong, and the High Court Bar Association over Advocate General Amit Kumar, while urging dialogue to resolve the ongoing dispute.
Responding to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Sangma said he respected the concerns of the legal fraternity and had attempted to act as a bridge to ease tensions. However, he declined to comment on individual grievances against the Advocate General.
The Chief Minister said any decision concerning Kumar’s replacement would require careful consideration of its implications for the State Government’s legal work.
He explained that the government’s legal machinery supports multiple departments and handles important cases. A change involving a key member of the system, he said, could create a temporary gap and affect the handling of ongoing matters if adequate arrangements were not made.
Sangma stressed that no individual was irreplaceable but said a transition required preparation to ensure continuity in government functioning.
“Everybody is replaceable, and everybody can be changed,” he said, adding that decisions of this nature needed to be taken after considering the wider implications.
On objections to Kumar appearing in court, Sangma said the Advocate General had stayed away from most cases in which the associations had requested that he not appear. However, he maintained that Kumar’s participation remained necessary in certain matters because of his familiarity with the issues involved.
The Chief Minister said withdrawing from such cases without adequate alternative representation could affect the interests of farmers, miners, teachers and other stakeholders.
Responding to questions about his longstanding association with Kumar, Sangma acknowledged that they had known each other for many years. He said the relationship had helped build trust but maintained that personal familiarity did not guarantee anyone’s continuation in office.
Sangma also recalled that his late father, P.A. Sangma, had proposed Kumar’s name for the post of Advocate General in 2008, when Donkupar Roy was Chief Minister. The appointment did not proceed at the time because Roy had another candidate in mind, he said.
On questions concerning Kumar’s contribution and performance, Sangma suggested that reporters seek the views of Cabinet ministers and bureaucrats, whom he said were better placed to assess his work.
Reiterating his willingness to facilitate further discussions, the Chief Minister said the government would work towards addressing the concerns raised by the legal associations and improving relations between the parties.
