SHILLONG: The Meghalaya High Court Bar Association has launched a scathing attack on the state’s Advocate General, Amit Kumar, accusing him of making false public statements and drawing exorbitant fees far exceeding the official government schedule.
Addressing a press conference following an anonymous disclosure, members revealed that confidential documents delivered to them exposed massive billings running into over ₹1 crore for a single case handled in a district commercial court.
The controversy centers around a press conference held by Amit Kumar on September 3, where he categorically defended his remuneration against ongoing public agitations demanding his removal.
During the briefing, the Advocate General maintained that his office strictly adheres to a prescribed fee schedule, charging ₹20,000 per appearance in the High Court, ₹40,000 per appearance in the Supreme Court, and a monthly retainer of ₹50,000, asserting he had never charged a single penny beyond these limits.
However, the Bar Association presented leaked invoices spanning 2021, 2022, and 2023, which tell a vastly different story.
According to the documents, Kumar billed ₹1,50,000 per appearance for a commercial court matter—an amount that drastically defies his own stated fee cap.
Questioning the lack of institutional accountability, the association asked who authorized such payments, noting that public funds are being heavily depleted without proper auditing.
Association members revealed that the explosive documents arrived in a confidential envelope from an anonymous whistleblower within the state who wanted the public to know how state funds are being mismanaged.
They dismissed public perceptions that the legal body’s agitation stems from personal vendetta or professional jealousy over an advocate from Delhi practicing in the state, emphasizing that their core concern is institutional integrity and transparency.
The association further alleged that previous Right to Information (RTI) applications filed to uncover these financial details were deliberately blocked using Section 8 exemptions.
They noted that even at the appellate stage, the department recently sought a 15-day extension specifically to secure consent from the Advocate General and others before responding.
With the extended RTI deadline expiring in November, the Bar Association is awaiting further official disclosures regarding other matters before finalizing their next course of action.
Declaring that comprehensive steps and potential approaches to relevant authorities will be decided collectively after thorough internal discussions, the association maintained that the truth behind the state’s legal expenditures is finally coming to light.
(4FrontMedia news)
