The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has urged the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and the Shillong Bar Association to reconsider and withdraw their joint resolution against Meghalaya Advocate General Amit Kumar to expel him.

In a resolution dated August 14, the SCBA said it had taken note of the joint resolution reportedly passed by the two Meghalaya-based bar associations against Kumar. The SCBA said the Advocate General's statement in Court regarding the safety of women was made in the context of serious allegations raised by a woman law intern against a senior member of the Bar.

According to the SCBA, Kumar's remarks were an acknowledgement of the need to ensure safe and dignified spaces for women lawyers and law interns and were made during proceedings before the Meghalaya High Court, which was dealing with the issue.

The SCBA further noted that Kumar had informed the court about action taken in the matter and had 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.

It said that, particularly because the matter is already under judicial consideration, seeking action against the Advocate General for submissions made during judicial proceedings was “unwarranted” and could aggravate the dispute.

The SCBA has therefore called upon the concerned bar associations to withdraw their joint resolution and instead work towards an effective and confidential mechanism through which women advocates and law interns can raise grievances without fear and seek appropriate redressal.

“The safety and dignity of every member of the legal profession must remain a collective responsibility of the Bar,” the SCBA said in its resolution.