Shillong, September 2: Lawyers practising in the Meghalaya High Court and courts in Shillong have decided to suspend their two-day pen-down strike for two weeks, while maintaining their demand for the removal of Meghalaya Advocate General Amit Kumar.
The decision followed a meeting on Wednesday between representatives of the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) and Shillong Bar Association (SBA) and Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home, Prestone Tynsong, and Law Minister Lahkmen Rymbui.
The lawyers had abstained from judicial work for two days to press for Kumar’s removal as Advocate General. They also sought the withdrawal of lawyers from outside the State who have been engaged to represent the Meghalaya Government.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, HCBA lawyer Kishore Gautam said the two Bar Associations had reiterated their principal demand for the removal of Amit Kumar.
He said the Government informed the delegation that it could not take an immediate decision and requested two weeks to examine the matter.
“The talks were productive, although we have not received a complete assurance. The Government sought two weeks, and we agreed to suspend the agitation temporarily,” Gautam said.
According to Gautam, the Government assured the lawyers that during the two-week period, Amit Kumar would not appear in any court on behalf of the Meghalaya Government. Lawyers from outside the State engaged by him would also not represent the Government during this period.
Gautam stressed that the temporary suspension of the agitation should not be construed as an agreement or withdrawal of the lawyers’ demand.
“We have only suspended the agitation temporarily following the Government’s assurance that it will examine our concerns and demands. If the Government fails to remove Amit Kumar, we will resume the agitation,” he warned.
Representatives of the two Bar Associations are also expected to meet Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma next week before the Government takes a final decision on the matter.
Gautam thanked members of the legal fraternity for maintaining unity and extending cooperation during the two-day agitation.
He said the decision to resume judicial work was taken in the larger public interest, particularly considering the difficulties faced by litigants whose cases were affected by the disruption.
