Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 27
The Concerned People of Nagaland (CPN) have written to the Bar Council of India (BCI) with a request to hold an inquiry on the Advocate General of Nagaland (AGN), KN Balgopal, “with a view to disbarment from the legal profession.”
The CPN made two serious allegations against the AGN and his colleague, Vitso Rio: one of conspiring to lie to their clients (the Government of Nagaland) and, the other, attempting to compromise the judiciary.
The allegations were made in reference to the Supreme Court’s order passed on April 12 after hearing the contempt petition filed by the CPN contending that the Nagaland Government, while appointing the present Director General of Police (DGP), T John Longkumer, did not comply with the 2006 directives of the Supreme Court which required a panel of names to be sent to the UPSC for the purpose of DGP selection.
In its order on April 12, the SC stated, “… having regard to the grounds on which the directions of this Court have been departed from, we are of the view that no case of willful disobedience of the Court is made out. The State Government should take note of the above observation and would either comply with the direction or move an application before this Court.”
With that, the SC order, passed by Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, dismissed the contempt petition. The order was made available in writing on April 15.
However, on April 12, the AGN, KN Balgopal- presumably on behalf of the Government of Nagaland - stated in a press release that “in the light” of the dismissal, “T John Longkumer DGP can continue in accordance with his term of appointment for holding charge as DGP, Nagaland.”
The SC order does not mention this. “Nowhere does it state that the present incumbent is allowed to continue in office,” stated the CPN’s letter to the BCI, calling out the discrepancy.
“How did he (AGN) know, before even filing the application, that the Honourable Justices presiding on this issue would allow the present incumbent, TJ Longkumer to continue in office? How can he know, in advance, that the Judges agree that removing (Rupin) Sharma from office because he had not completed 30 years in service was correct, but appointing Longkumer, who has also not reached 30 years in service, in his place, in direct contravention of the Directions set in the Prakash Singh Case, will be allowed by the Judges?” questioned the CPN in the letter signed by its Convener, Kahuto Chishi Sumi.
It led the CPN to its two assumptions: that either the AGN has lied to its client, the Nagaland State Government – which means the Government has not read the SC order – or that the AGN has been able to “compromise” the judiciary.
“As the people of Nagaland slowly begin to understand the laws of India and the institutions that govern and regulate them, it is extremely distressing for Nagas to witness this exhibition of our Advocate General,” stated the CPN to the BCI, hoping that the BCI will “make just and full inquiries into the issue to ensure that the laws of India and the institutions guarding them may remain sacrosanct in the eyes of its citizens.”
