State has three AAGs

SHILLONG, DEC 22: Meghalaya government has recently appointed two more advocates from outside the state as the new Additional Advocate Generals (AAGs). With the appointment of the two as AAG, the state now has three AAGs.

The appointment was made following the former AAG Dr BP Todi’s elevation as the new Advocate General on December 15 leaving the two posts of AAGs vacant.

An RTI findings filed by the Civil Society Women’s Organization (CSWO) reveals the two newly appointed AAGs of the state includes Sidhartha Baruah, an advocate from Noida and P Niroop, advocate from New Delhi.

With this, the state has now three AAGs which include WHD Syngkon.

Criticizing the decision to appoint advocates from outside the state, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing said, “Do the state government means to say that there is dearth of legal experts in the state by appointing people from outside the state.” Stating that many cases are lying pending, she said, “The question arises who is going to bear the expenses for these advocates from outside the state for them to come to the state.”

As per the RTI, the government is paying Rs 18, 000 and Rs 10, 000 for a senior advocate and advocate respectively as appearing fees, while Rs 10, 000 and Rs 5,000 for conference charges and Rs 5000 for drafting besides Rs 10, 000 for settlement.

It also revealed that the retaining fees per month for Advocate General is Rs 20, 000 while for AAGs it is Rs 17, 000. Moreover, Rs 13, 000 is for senior government advocate, Rs 9,000 for government advocate, while Rs 6,000 for public prosecuter/government pleader and Rs 5,000 for additional public prosecutor.

Stating the government is spending so much on its legal experts’, Kharshiing alleged that still the government is losing many cases.-By Our Reporter