After giving the above direction, the Delhi High Court also requested the government to take fast action for enacting the Bill.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has recently asked the Delhi government (GNCTD) to take quick and necessary steps to enact the Advocates Protection Bill in Delhi.
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The Court was informed that as per a status report filed by the Delhi government’s law department in September 2024, the final draft of the Delhi Advocates Protection Bill, 2024 is still awaiting approval from the Council of Ministers in Delhi. Only after this approval, a policy decision will be taken regarding the Bill’s enactment.
However, the Coordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi has not been given a copy of the draft Bill. Due to this, the Committee filed an application before the Court, requesting the government to share the draft with them.
On April 21, 2025, Justice Sachin Datta passed an order directing the Delhi government to share the draft Bill with the Bar Committee.
The judge allowed the application and said:
“The limited request of the applicant is that the final draft of Advocate Protection Bill, 2024 be provided to them, so that they get an opportunity to give any representation that they seek to with regard to the provisions thereof. Application allowed. The GNCTD is directed to provide a draft of the Advocate Protection Bill, 2024 to the applicant,” the Court directed.
After giving the above direction, the Delhi High Court also requested the government to take fast action for enacting the Bill.
The Court said:
“Let the GNCTD take further expeditious steps, as may be deemed expedient, for enacting the bill,” the Court added.
On February 13, 2025, the Union Law Ministry circulated the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2025, inviting public feedback. However, the BCI claims that the final draft includes unilateral insertions that were not part of previous discussions.
BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra noted,
“It is shocking that in the draft publication, several material changes have been made by some officials and the Ministry of Law.”
The BCI has warned that lawyers across India are agitated, with Delhi District Court lawyers already on strike.
“The lawyers throughout the country are agitated, strong protest is bound to occur,”
the BCI stated, warning that the movement could spread nationwide.
The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for May 28, 2025. The progress on the Bill will be reviewed by the Court during that hearing.
- Advocates Aakriti Jain and Abhinav Sharma represented the Delhi government.
- Advocate Ajay Kumar Agarwal appeared for the Bar Council of Delhi.
- Advocates KC Mittal and Keshav Poonia represented the applicant Committee that requested access to the draft.
Case Title: Deepa Joseph & Anr vs Union of India & Ors
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