
Shillong, Feb 25: Recreating lost files in the Shillong Bar Association building fire incident is the task ahead for the advocates who have to take up cases with the courts so that the litigants do not suffer.
A day after the inferno on Sunday, several lawyers were seen searching for their files from the rubble. Some of them were lucky to get one or two important case files while others could not salvage anything (in picture).
President of Shillong Bar Association HR Nath said the lawyers will create again the files with the help of judges in the courts so that the litigants will not suffer.
Out of 1000 members of the Bar Association, atleast 700 of them used to keep their files in the building which had also a room for public prosecutor and additional public prosecutors who deal with both criminal and civil cases.
Besides the case files, computers, printers, bills, vouchers, law books and furniture among others were destroyed.
“We are sure that the litigants will bear with us, we will not stop working, we have to recreate the case files”, he said.
The district and sessions court has also assured to help the lawyers by providing them with the copies of the case files.
“The junior members of the association are also cooperating and we will continue to work so that hearing of the cases can go on in the courts”, he said.
The members of the Bar Association had a meeting on Sunday and they discussed about asking the government to provide alternative accommodation and the need to reconstruct the building.
Law Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, who visited the building, said the government is exploring alternative accommodation so that the advocates can carry on with their work.
The minister said she will also discuss with the Chief Minister on the need to reconstruct the building urgently.