Advocates Protection Bill: Bar Council of Delhi Finalizes Advocates Protection Bill

(Judicial Quest News Network)

A special committee constituted by Delhi Bar Council has finalized the Delhi Advocates (Protection) Bill, 2023 for providing safety to lawyers from incidents of assaults, killings, intimidation and treats.

The Special Committee of Bar Council of Delhi headed by Mr.K.C.Mittal Member, Bar Council of Delhi and Dr. N.C Sharma, secretary General were also present in the meeting.

The Bill defines acts of violence, offenders, and punishments and provides for compensation as well as police protection to advocates in cases of threats.

It proposes constitution of permanent grievance redressal committee at the level of each district court and the Delhi High Court.

According to a press statement issued by the co-ordination committee of all district courts bar association of Delhi, this committee shall consists of head of the judiciary i.e., District Judge at District level along with the President/Secretary of the concerned Bar Association and a nominee of bar Council of Delhi.

“For the High Court, the Committee shall comprise of  the Chief Justice or his nominee, along with the President/Secretary of the Delhi High Court Bar Association and the Chairman or a nominee of Bar Council of Delhi. The respective Committees would be entitled to include two Senior Advocates or the Former Office Bearers of Bar Associations/Bar Council. “The statement said.

The Bill also proposes that these committees would act as and when any incident happens in the court premises and would make all efforts to resolve the same. If the situation warrants, the Committee will refer the matter to High Court and Bar Council of Delhi and in case of police/any other authority, the Committee shall be competent to issue appropriate Directions in the facts as are brought before it.

The proposed Bill also protects the Advocates from ‘illegal arrest ‘and ‘malicious prosecution’

The said Bill was prepared by the special committee of the BCD which was headed by Advocate KC Mittal.