SHILLONG — The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday, October 13, gave advocates facing criminal contempt proceedings additional time to submit affidavits offering unconditional apologies and assuring the court that they would not repeat the conduct under scrutiny.
A division bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew granted the request in PIL No. 21 of 2026. The advocates named in the court’s October 8 order appeared in person, except those listed at serial numbers 13 and 15(vi). The bench directed that the matter be listed on October 14.
The proceedings arise from a September 30 resolution by the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and the Shillong Bar Association calling for abstention from judicial work across the state from October 1 until the government removed Advocate General Amit Kumar. The associations had been pressing for his removal following a dispute that emerged after an August 3 court hearing.
On October 8, the High Court initiated suo motu contempt proceedings and issued notices to 24 office-bearers and executive members of the two associations.
Acting under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, read with Article 215 of the Constitution, the bench asked them to explain why criminal contempt action should not be taken over the boycott call, which the court viewed as obstructing the administration of justice.
