Shillong, Aug 14: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has urged both the bar associations in Meghalaya to withdraw the order to remove the membership of Advocate General Amit Kumar on the law intern issue.
The SCBA issued the appeal on Friday ( Aug (14) in the form of a resolution.
Text of the decision below
RESOLUTION OF THE SUPREME COURT BAR ASSOCIATION
“The Supreme Court Bar Association has taken note of the Joint Resolution reportedly passed by the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and the Shillong Bar Association against Shri Amit Kumar, Advocate General of Meghalaya.
The statement made by the learned Advocate General which led to the resolution was in the context of a matter which arises from serious allegations made by a woman law intern against a senior member of the Bar. The statement of Mr. Amit Kumar was an acknowledgement of the need to ensure safe and dignified spaces to women lawyers and interns and was made during proceedings before the Hon’ble High Court of Meghalaya which was dealing with the issue.
The SCBA notes that as Advocate General, Mr. Amit Kumar informed the Court about the action taken and submitted that, while the safety of members of the Bar must be protected, equal attention must be given to the safety and dignity of women advocates and law interns.
Taking these circumstances into account, particularly when the matter is already under consideration on the judicial side, a resolution seeking action against the Advocate General for submissions made during judicial proceedings is unwarranted and may further escalate the controversy.
The SCBA therefore urges the concerned Bar Associations to reconsider and withdraw their Joint Resolution and to work towards an effective and confidential mechanism through which women advocates and law interns may fearlessly raise their grievances and seek appropriate redressal.
The safety and dignity of every member of the legal profession must remain a collective responsibility of the Bar”.
Pragya Baghel
Hony. Secretary
