The Meghalaya High Court on Wednesday (October 14) closed a suo motu contempt petition registered with regard to the call for abstention of judicial work given by the Shillong Bar Association and the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association to all districts, after the Advocates have tendered unconditional apology and assured that they will not participate in any such abstention calls in future.

The division bench comprising the Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice H.S. Thangkhiew observed:

“We find that the unconditional apology tendered is bonafide and sincere. All the contemnors have shown genuine regret and remorse. Considering the aforesaid, in particular, the withdrawal of the call for abstention, at the earliest, as soon as contempt notices were issued, the unconditional apology tendered at the earliest opportunity and assurance given not to participate in any such call for abstention of Court work, this Court is of the view that the majesty of law stands restored.”

Earlier, the Court had issued contempt notices to office-bearers and executive members of the Meghalaya High Court Bar Association and Shillong Bar Association over their call for abstention from judicial work in all courts across the State until the Government of Meghalaya removes the Advocate General.

Pursuant to the said notices, all Advocates except few, against whom the said notices were issued appeared and tendered their unconditional apology and sought time to file their respective affidavits to that effect. With regard to those Advocates who could not appear, the Court was apprised that they had resigned from their respective posts much prior to the passing of the call for abstention by the concerned Bar Associations. Therefore, the Court dropped the contempt proceedings against those Advocates.

The Court also dropped contempt proceedings against Advocates K.S. Kyngjing, and N. Syngkon after they filed their respective affidavits stating, that they had not participated in the call for abstention given by the Shillong High Court Bar Association and Meghalaya High Court Bar Association.

The Court further noted that the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and Shillong High Court Bar Association had taken steps to withdraw the call for abstention from Court work, on 9th October, 2026, i.e. on the very next day, the show cause notice under the Contempt of Courts Act was issued.

“Today, all the Advocates have tendered their affidavits giving their unconditional apology for participating in the call for abstention of Court works and have expressed their sincere regret and have assured that they will not participate in any such abstention from attending Courts in future,” the Court said.

Thus, the Court accepted the apology and assurance given by the contemnors and purged them of contempt and stated that they are discharged from the present contempt proceedings.

“We acknowledge and appreciate the stand taken by both the Shillong High Court Bar Association and Meghalaya High Court Bar Association with respect to what is stated in the affidavits and trust that the same will not be repeated in future,” the Court noted.