A major dispute has erupted in Meghalaya over the legal remuneration drawn from public funds, with two premier legal associations accusing Advocate General Amit Kumar of billing significantly above the officially sanctioned tariff in a commercial lawsuit. According to the legal bodies, the cumulative fees claimed in that single matter crossed Rs 1 crore.
Discrepancies Between Official Caps and Billed Invoices
The High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association alongside the Shillong Bar Association brought these claims forward on Friday. Representatives from the two bodies stated that billing records delivered by an unnamed whistleblower reveal a single court hearing was billed at Rs 1.5 lakh. This figure represents nearly seven times the payment authorized under official rules. The disputed vouchers originate from proceedings held before the Commercial Court between 2021 and 2023.
The current official compensation structure specifies fixed remuneration: Rs 20,000 for an appearance in the High Court, Rs 40,000 for representation before the Supreme Court, and a fixed monthly retainer of Rs 50,000. While Kumar stated publicly on September 3 that his billings had never exceeded the sanctioned remuneration schedule, the lawyers maintain that the payment receipts currently in their custody directly conflict with his assertion.
Questions Over Internal Oversight and RTI Delays
Scrutiny is also turning toward the state administrative machinery. Kishore Gautam, Secretary General of the High Court Bar Association, questioned how invoices of this magnitude managed to pass internal verification and secure financial sanction without encountering administrative hurdles within the government.
Shillong Bar Association Secretary Trebor Jyrwa claimed that authorities are shielding the Advocate General from accountability. He highlighted that multiple submissions filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act requesting comprehensive details of these disbursements were repeatedly turned down. Currently, the department handling the matter has requested an extension until November 5 to seek Kumar's clearance before any disclosures are made.
Additional Invoices and Arbitration Proceedings Under Scrutiny
Jyrwa drew attention to supplementary invoices issued through Kumar's Delhi chamber as well as Indus Law Associates. The allegations also extend into arbitration proceedings, where Kumar purportedly submitted a bill of Rs 1.4 lakh for a single day of proceedings, despite the prescribed compensation limit being just Rs 11,000 for the task.
The associations confirmed that they are holding additional billing records but will defer further steps until the pending RTI proceedings run their course. The representatives underlined that their intervention is strictly aimed at defending public money and reinforcing governmental accountability, rather than pursuing any personal animosity.
