Todi clears air on showcause notice

SHILLONG: Advocate General of the state BP Todi said he has replied to the showcause notice on January 16 issued by the High Court of Meghalaya Bar Association.
In a reply to the showcause notice served by the High Court Bar Association, Todi said two separate writ petitions were pending before the Supreme Court concerning the Meghalaya High Court.
He added that in one of the cases, the issue of designation of Pradip Kumar Roy, Ashok Kr Singh and Aman Sinha were the subject matter and in another case, the designation of Sultan Singh was the subject matter.
Todi asserted that in the letter addressed to him, names of Pradip Kumar Roy and Ashok Kr Singh were not mentioned although they were named in the same writ petition.
He indicated that it is not known whether the Bar Association had issued similar letters to its other members at whose recommendation disputed members were also conferred senior status.
He argued that it is arbitrary and discriminatory on the part of the association if no such letter was issued to other members of the association.
The senior advocate added that from the contents of the letter it was apparent that it was meant to hurt his sentiments as well as sideline him.
Todi said he was in the capacity of Advocate General of Meghalaya pursuant to order dated April 24, 2017 passed by the Supreme Court and not in the capacity of a member of the association.