Shillong, September 7: The Meghalaya High Court has disposed of a writ petition concerning the alleged assault and public parading of an advocate in Shillong after taking note of the registration of an FIR, the ongoing police investigation and measures initiated by the Bar Council of Meghalaya to address grievances within the legal fraternity.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W. Diengdoh passed the order on September 1 in WP(C) No. 350 of 2026, filed by the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association and the Shillong Bar Association against the State of Meghalaya and others.
The petition arose from a representation dated July 29, 2026, in which the two Bar Associations alleged that an advocate was apprehended by “non-State actors” from his professional chamber at Keating Road, physically assaulted and paraded to Sadar Police Station. The petitioners had also complained that the police failed to stop the assault or take immediate action against those involved.
During the hearing, Advocate General A. Kumar assured the Court that appropriate action would be taken, following which an FIR was registered against the non-State actors. The Advocate General also assured that police would ensure strict compliance with the directions issued by the Supreme Court in the Tehseen S. Poonawalla case concerning mob violence and vigilantism.
The State further informed the Court that the investigation against those accused of assaulting and parading the advocate was in progress and would be taken to its “logical end.”
The Court also recorded steps taken by the Bar Council of Meghalaya, including setting up a physical complaint drop box at its office and introducing an online complaint portal. The order noted that most Bar Associations in the State had complied with the directions issued by the Bar Council.
Separately, regarding allegations of sexual harassment against the advocate, the Court noted that the Shillong Bar Association had suspended him. A complaint against the advocate had also been registered by the Bar Council of Meghalaya as a disciplinary enquiry, with further action being taken under the Bar Council of India Rules.
Concluding that the Bar Council of Meghalaya had taken “positive and adequate steps” to address future grievances, the High Court said nothing further survived for consideration and disposed of the petition.
