‘They can’t remove me as AG’: Meghalaya Advocate General on expulsion from bar rolls

In Meghalaya, top law officer Amit Kumar has been removed from the bar rolls after the bar associations of the Meghalaya High Court and Shillong denounced his statements regarding a female intern's alleged sexual assault by a senior bar member. Kumar maintains that he made the statement to highlight the need for the bar to protect women members and provide a safe environment.

He argues that his duty as a senior advocate was to raise the issue, despite facing criticism from the bar associations. The associations claim that Kumar's statements cast serious aspersions on the bar and made false statements in court, justifying his expulsion. However, Kumar contends that the bar associations cannot remove him from his position as Advocate General, as it is determined by the government and the Chief Minister.

He asserts that he will continue to practice law in Meghalaya, despite being removed from the bar rolls, and that no notice or hearing was provided before his name was removed. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has also weighed in on the matter, stating that Kumar's expulsion was unwarranted and might escalate the controversy, as the case was already before the court.

The SCBA urges the bar associations to reconsider their decision and work towards addressing women advocates' and law interns' grievances.