The Bar Council of India (BCI) has asked lawyers to stop protests against the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as discussions with the Law Ministry are progressing well with positive assurances.
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NEW DELHI: The Bar Council of India (BCI) has asked lawyers to stop their ongoing protests against the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2025 because discussions with the Union Law Ministry about their concerns are going well.
Lawyers in Delhi and some other places have been protesting against the changes to the Advocates Act of 1961.
The BCI sent a letter to the Bar Council of Delhi, the Delhi High Court Bar Association, and all District Court Bar Associations of Delhi. In this letter, BCI said that if protests continue, it might create problems in the discussions with the Law Ministry, which is working on solving the concerns of lawyers.
“Accordingly, we request and direct the Coordination Committee of all District Bar Associations of Delhi also, to convey this message effectively to their respective members and ensure the restoration of normal functioning in courts from tomorrow,”
-the letter dated February 20 stated.
ALSO READ: Delhi Bar Associations Call for Strike Against Proposed Advocate Amendment Bill 2025
The BCI also said that senior officials of the Law Ministry, including Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and the Law Secretary, have assured full cooperation and have seriously considered BCI’s concerns about the bill.
“The discussions, have yielded substantial clarity and positive assurances regarding the genuine concerns of the legal fraternity on the Draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill,”
-the letter mentioned.
Earlier, BCI had written to the Law Ministry to oppose some parts of the bill and had also suggested changes.
The BCI had pointed out several issues in the bill, such as:
- Addition of government nominees in the Bar Council of India.
- Ban on lawyers’ strikes.
- Rules on foreign lawyers practicing in India.
- The new definition of legal practitioners.
- No special mention of welfare schemes for lawyers.
In its earlier letter, BCI had warned that the bill, in its current form, could destroy the independence and autonomy of the legal profession.
ALSO READ: Bar Council of India Raises Strong Objections to Proposed Advocates Amendment Bill, 2025
Now, in the latest letter, BCI has recognized that the Law Ministry’s stance has changed, and there is now a chance that the government will accept the BCI’s suggestions to fix the concerns raised by lawyers.
“We engaged in a threadbare deliberation with the Hon’ble Law Minister along with the Law Secretary and senior officers of the Ministry. Subsequently, a focused discussion was conducted with the Law Secretary and his team, wherein various reservations, apprehensions, and expectations of the legal community concerning the Bill were dissected and addressed with due seriousness,”
-the letter stated.
The BCI further mentioned that after these discussions, the Law Minister has clearly assured that all major concerns raised by lawyers will be properly examined and resolved before the bill is passed.
However, if the State Bar Associations and lawyers’ groups continue their protests, it might affect the constructive talks with the government, the BCI warned. It urged lawyers to temporarily stop their protests against the bill.
“The Government has demonstrated a constructive approach and is receptive to our suggestions. Therefore, the need of the hour is to engage through dialogue rather than resorting to strike/boycott,”
-the BCI appealed.
The BCI made it clear that no part of the bill will be allowed to become law if it harms the interests of lawyers or affects the independence of the legal profession.
It also informed that a meeting with all State Bar Councils is scheduled for February 23, where further action will be collectively decided.
“If it is felt that there is a necessity of any protest or agitation on any issue, the Bar Council of India will give such call at an appropriate time for a nation-wide protest. At present, there is no such need as the Government’s approach is positive on Lawyers issues and Bar Council of India’s representation,”
-the letter added.
The matter is still under discussion, and the Law Ministry is expected to review the recommendations in the coming weeks.
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