The Nagaland Bar Association (NBA) has set September 13 as the deadline for the state government to appoint the Advocate General from among members of the legal fraternity in Nagaland and take steps to complete the new High Court Complex at Meriema.
The association said it had issued a three-month ultimatum to the state government through a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister and Minister-in-Charge of Law and Justice Neiphiu Rio on June 13, 2026. The memorandum was signed by NBA president A. Zhimomi and secretary S. Keyho, following resolutions unanimously adopted at the association’s Executive Committee meeting on June 8.
With the three-month period ending on September 13, the NBA said the government must act on both issues within the stipulated timeframe.
On the appointment of the Advocate General, the association said it had repeatedly submitted representations to the government requesting that the position be filled by a member of the legal fraternity from Nagaland. It said its representations and meetings with the Chief Minister had so far not yielded any result.
According to the NBA resolution, no member of the legal fraternity in Nagaland has been considered for appointment as Advocate General since the state attained statehood in 1963. The association said this situation needed to change and called for the appointment of the AG from among members of the state’s legal fraternity within three months.
The NBA warned that failure to meet the deadline would lead to consequential action, including, but not limited to, a boycott of the incumbent Advocate General in all proceedings, whether physical or virtual, along with other appropriate action.
The association also raised concerns over the prolonged construction of the new High Court Complex at Meriema. It noted that construction of the complex began in 2007 but the project remains incomplete nearly two decades later.
The NBA said providing adequate infrastructure was the responsibility of the state government and was essential for ensuring a robust and effective judiciary, which is one of the three organs of the State.
It has therefore demanded that adequate resources be provided on a priority basis so that construction of the new High Court Complex can be completed at the earliest.
The association described the continued absence of an Advocate General from the state’s legal fraternity as a “slur upon the legal fraternity in the State”. It argued that the Nagaland government, which has been in existence for more than 60 years since statehood in 1963, should not suggest that the legal profession in the state has not developed sufficiently or that there are no competent lawyers who can be considered for the post of Advocate General.
The NBA also stressed that judicial infrastructure should receive priority and that the judiciary could not be treated as an “unwanted organ” of the State or be relegated to the background.
According to the association, both issues raised in its memorandum are of “utmost importance to public interest”. It said Nagaland needs a strong and effective judiciary supported by adequate infrastructure and proper institutional representation.
The NBA has accordingly reiterated its demands for the appointment of the Advocate General from among members of the state legal fraternity within the three-month period and for the allocation of adequate resources to complete the High Court Complex at Meriema on a priority basis.
