States » EastPosted at: Oct 14 2026 9:44PM


Meghalaya HC closes contempt proceedings against Bar Associations after unconditional apology

Shillong, Oct 14 (UNI) A Division Bench of the Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday disposed of criminal contempt proceedings against office-bearers of the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and the Shillong Bar Association for calling an indefinite statewide judicial abstention to pressure the government to remove Amit Kumar as Advocate General.
Adjudicating a suo motu PIL registered by the Registrar General of the High Court, the bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew closed the contempt petition after the office-bearers of the two bar associations tendered their unconditional apologies to the court.
The High Court Bar Association and the Shillong Bar Association were on a path of direct confrontation, demanding Kumar’s removal over his claim during a Meghalaya High Court hearing that “there are many sexual harassment cases within Shillong’s legal fraternity.”
“Today, all the advocates have tendered their affidavits giving their unconditional apology for participating in the call for abstention of court work,” the judgment observed.
Moreover, the office-bearers of the two associations, in their affidavits, also expressed their “sincere regret” and assured the court that they would not participate in any such abstention from attending courts in the future.
The bench noted in its judgment that advocates K.S. Kynjing and N. Syngkon had distanced themselves from the strike, informing the court that they did not join the boycott called by the two bar associations.
Both advocates attached documentary evidence to their affidavits to prove they had continued appearing in court despite the boycott call.
“Since both the advocates had not participated, the contempt proceedings against them are dropped," the court ordered.
The bench noted that the bar associations had withdrawn their call for abstention from court work on October 9, 2026, the very next day after the show-cause notice under the Contempt of Courts Act was issued.
“We find that the unconditional apology tendered is bona fide and sincere. All the contemnors have shown genuine regret and remorse,” the bench noted.
Declaring the contempt petition closed, Justices Dere and Thangkhiew noted that the apologies and assurances tendered by the contemnors were accepted. Consequently, the contemnors stand purged of contempt and are discharged from the proceedings.
While taking into account the undertakings by the advocates, the High Court acknowledged and appreciated the stand taken by both bar associations, expressing trust that the disruption "will not be repeated in future".
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