Nagaland government lawyers reject NBA’s demand to remove Advocate General KN Balgopal, citing constitutional provisions and state government prerogative
DIMAPUR — Additional Advocates General and government panel advocates representing Nagaland before the Gauhati High Court have opposed the Nagaland Bar Association’s (NBA) demand for termination of Advocate General KN Balgopal, asserting that the appointment of the State’s top law officer is governed by the Constitution and is a prerogative of the state government.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Additional Advocates General and government panel advocates at the Gauhati High Court’s principal seat and Kohima Bench maintained that the NBA’s demand to appoint an AG from among Nagaland’s legal fraternity had “no constitutional mandate”.
The statement comes days after the NBA renewed its demand for Balgopal’s removal and resolved to boycott cases in which he appears, following a statement attributed to him during proceedings before the Supreme Court. The Bar had also directed its members, including government panel advocates, not to aid or assist the AG in his court appearances.
The NBA has separately been pressing the state government to appoint the AG from among members of Nagaland’s legal fraternity, a demand it has raised repeatedly.
Related: 13 days to go: NBA ultimatum on Nagaland’s advocate general
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In April 2025, the association had expressed displeasure over the continued appointment of Advocates General from outside the state, pointing out that no AG had been appointed from Nagaland since statehood.
The government lawyers, however, said Article 165 of the Constitution provides for the appointment of the AG of a state and that the appointment, removal or termination of the law officer falls within the prerogative of the state government.
They criticised the NBA’s latest statement as being contrary to the constitutional position and described its direction to government panel advocates not to assist the AG as “manifestly arbitrary” and inconsistent with accepted standards of professional conduct.
They added that they had, on their own volition, decided not to participate in the NBA’s demand for removal or termination of the incumbent AG.
They also urged the NBA to reconsider both its demand for Balgopal’s removal and its direction to government panel advocates not to assist him during court appearances.
The NBA had set September 13 as the deadline for the state government to appoint an AG from among members of the legal fraternity in Nagaland.
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