Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the government and Law Commission are actively finalising the Advocates Protection Act to ensure safety and insurance for lawyers. A key meeting on December 8 will discuss reforms, including amendments to the Advocates Act.
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Friday informed a gathering of lawyers that the Law Commission is actively working on the Advocates Protection Act. Speaking at the Bar Council of India’s event to felicitate Chief Justice of India designate Justice Surya Kant, he said that the government is also moving forward with related legal reforms.
Meghwal announced that the government will hold a meeting on December 8 to discuss the matter of insurance for advocates. He added that the Centre is examining possible changes to the Advocates Act.
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The Advocates Protection Act is a proposed law in India, supported by a 2021 bill from the Bar Council of India, aimed at protecting lawyers from violence, intimidation, and harassment while they perform their professional duties.
He recalled that the government had earlier considered changes to the Advocates Act and had even reached certain decisions, but the draft was leaked, causing significant opposition.
He said,
“I have spoken to the Cabinet about further amendments to the Advocates Act, and we will sit with bar representatives as well,”
Key provisions of the proposed law are designed to prohibit violence against lawyers, introduce penalties for offenders, and allow advocates to request police protection if they feel threatened.
A similar law was passed in Rajasthan in 2023, and some of its provisions, including banning violence against advocates and enabling police protection on request, have already been adopted at the state level.
During his address, Meghwal spoke in detail about Justice Surya Kant’s life journey. He highlighted how Justice Kant grew up in the small village of Petwar in Haryana, studied in a government school, learned English only from Class 6, and chose to pursue law despite his family’s objections.
He also recalled the support of a senior lawyer who helped Justice Kant move to Chandigarh, even personally driving him there.
The minister concluded by sharing lines he had written for the Chief Justice, saying,
“Chimney ke roshni mein padhna, phir bhi lagatar aage badhna ye inki zindagi hai.”
(Studying in the light of a chimney, yet continuously moving forward – this is his life story.)
This development signals the government’s commitment to strengthening the legal profession by ensuring the safety and protection of advocates across India.
The upcoming meeting on December 8 is expected to pave the way for more concrete steps, including insurance provisions and potential amendments to the Advocates Act, reflecting the growing recognition of the challenges faced by legal professionals today.
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