Nagaland Bar Association to Boycott Court Proceedings on Sept 25 Demanding Advocate General Resignation

Protesting government inaction over Advocate General K.N. Balgopal's resignation and pushing for a local appointee, the Nagaland Bar Association will abstain from all court proceedings on September 25.

Lawyers across Nagaland have resolved to disengage from all judicial proceedings on September 25 to intensify their protest against the state administration's inaction regarding the demanded resignation of Advocate General K.N. Balgopal. The Nagaland Bar Association confirmed this move through a formal resolution, stating that the collective abstention serves as a direct reaction to the government failing to address their demand for the top law officer's departure.

District Court Lawyers to Attend Without Bands and Coats
Under the protest outline approved by the association, legal practitioners practicing in district courts have been instructed to follow a specific demonstration protocol on September 25. Members are required to mark their presence inside their designated courtrooms while intentionally shedding their professional dress code by not wearing their prescribed coats and advocate bands. The legal body indicated that future courses of action will be evaluated and determined only after assessing circumstances following the September 25 protest.

Three-Month Deadline and Demand for a Local Appointee
Two central grievances underpin the continuous agitation by the state's legal fraternity. The primary demand centers on appointing an indigenous lawyer from Nagaland to the office of the Advocate General. According to the bar association, no legal practitioner native to Nagaland has occupied the constitutional office since Nagaland officially achieved statehood in 1963. The association had previously served the state administration with a three-month deadline to execute the local appointment, which officially elapsed on September 13.

Controversy Surrounding Alleged Supreme Court Remarks
The secondary catalyst behind the unrest involves an alleged remark attributed to Balgopal during judicial proceedings in the Supreme Court on September 1. He was reportedly cited as claiming that the state possesses only two employment avenues, government jobs and underground work. The bar association strongly denounced the reported statement as derogatory toward the people of Nagaland, stating it severely compromised the Advocate General's moral authority. Consequently, the strike on September 25 is designed to register unified disapproval against both the contentious remarks and the state government's reluctance to intervene.

What this means for you
Litigants facing scheduled court hearings in Nagaland will experience operational disruptions as advocates abstain from legal duties.

• Across India: The demonstration highlights growing debates regarding the appointment of local practitioners to constitutional posts like state Advocate Generals. It also draws national attention to accountability regarding statements made before the Supreme Court during state representation.
• In Nagaland: Regular judicial proceedings across district courts will face delays on September 25, requiring litigants to seek deferred dates. The physical presence of lawyers without coats and bands will restrict active hearings and cause procedural pauses for civilian cases.
• For Litigants: Individuals with court appointments or scheduled testimony on September 25 should anticipate postponements and schedule adjustments. Clients are advised to coordinate directly with their respective advocates to confirm subsequent appearances.
• On Future Action: If the state administration continues to withhold action on the appointment dispute, ongoing friction could trigger broader disruptions across regional tribunals. The outcome following September 25 will determine whether long-term judicial strikes materialize.

Why this happened
The protest emerged due to state government inaction regarding demands for the Advocate General's removal alongside contentious remarks allegedly made in the apex court.

• Demand for Indigenous Representation: The primary grievance stems from the fact that no advocate from Nagaland has held the office of Advocate General since the territory gained statehood in 1963. The bar association served a formal three-month ultimatum for a local appointment, which officially lapsed on September 13.
• Controversial Employment Allegation: Friction escalated sharply after Advocate General K.N. Balgopal allegedly remarked during Supreme Court proceedings on September 1 that Nagaland offers only two forms of work, government and underground jobs. The association strongly objected to this characterization, deeming it derogatory to the people of the state.
• Absence of Executive Intervention: With the expiration of the deadline and no decisive remedial measures from the state government, the legal body opted for coordinated abstention to register institutional dissent.

Questions & Answers

1. Why is the Nagaland Bar Association abstaining from court on September 25?
The association is protesting the state government's inaction regarding the demanded resignation of Advocate General K.N. Balgopal and the call for a local appointee.

2. How will advocates demonstrate in district courts on that day?
Lawyers will be present in their respective district courtrooms but will abstain from wearing their prescribed coats and advocate bands.

3. What is the primary appointment demand raised by the association?
The bar association demands that a local lawyer from Nagaland be appointed as Advocate General, pointing out that no native advocate has held the post since 1963.

4. What alleged remark triggered objections against the Advocate General?
The Advocate General allegedly stated during Supreme Court proceedings on September 1 that Nagaland offers only two types of employment, government jobs and underground work.

5. What deadline had the bar association previously issued to the state government?
The association had set a three-month deadline to appoint a local Advocate General, which expired on September 13.

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