Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has confirmed that the Advocates Act, 1961 will soon be amended to benefit General Counsels (GCs) by granting them statutory recognition similar to practicing advocates. Speaking at a GCAI event, he emphasized the importance of GCs in India’s legal and economic landscape. Legal experts, including Justice (Retd.) AK Sikri and Hima Kohli, also highlighted the growing role of GCs in the digital era. “You have many strengths, one weakness, and multiple opportunities,” Meghwal assured, signaling a major shift for in-house legal professionals.
The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) aims to grant citizenship to religious minorities from neighboring countries who have settled in India and lack proper documentation. It introduced religion as a criteria for Indian citizenship for the first time, sparking nationwide protests and criticism for discriminating against Muslims. The act is set to come into effect soon, despite ongoing controversy.