On September 15, the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) in Kohima held a general meeting in which it voted to fully back any decision made by the Nagaland Bar Association (NBA) regarding the advocate general (AG) issue. The resolution, adopted by a majority, pledged HCBA’s support for the NBA’s stance on the appointment of the AG from the local legal community. The NBA had requested that the state government appoint an AG from among local lawyers, and its three‑month deadline for Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to act on the request expired on September 13.
HCBA president C.T. Jamir highlighted the NBA’s September 3 resolution to boycott cases in which State AG K.N. Balgopal appears, renewing its demand for his termination over a statement made during submissions before the Supreme Court. The resolution, adopted at the June 8 meeting, called for bar members to refuse to participate in any case where Balgopal appears, either virtually or physically, and urged government panel advocates and departments to ensure that none of their staff assisted him during court appearances. The NBA had earlier expressed ‘extreme concern’ over Balgopal’s alleged remark that ‘Nagaland has only two types of employment – one is a government job and the other is an underground job.’
The meeting also featured a presentation on the role of the Bar by Tongpok Pongener, an annual report from secretary Joshua Sheqi, a property committee report by Pfosekho Pfotte and an audit report by committee convenor V. Zhimomi. The resolution supporting the NBA’s position was presented by HCBA joint secretary E. Thiba Phom.
In addition to the AG debate, the assembly discussed compliance with SLP (C) No. 1404/2025 and the Deeksha Namruthesh vs State of Karnataka & Ors. case, which concerns a 30% reservation of posts in Bar Associations for women advocates. The executive committee, which had nominated Inaholi Wotsa and Krovino Tsückrü Renboni Kikon on May 7, 2026, resolved to increase the number of executive members to twelve.
