The Delhi High Court on Wednesday has directed the Aam Aadmi Party government to submit a status report on the Advocates Protection Bill, which aims to create a safer environment for legal professionals.
Justice Sanjeev Narula has requested this report within two weeks and has rescheduled the next hearing from February 5, 2025, to December 16, 2024.
The court’s action follows a plea by advocates Deepa Joseph and Alpha Phiris Dayal, who are advocating for this law in light of the recent alleged murder of a lawyer in April.
During the proceedings, Santosh Kumar Tripathi, the standing counsel for the Delhi government, indicated he would provide the latest updates on the bill’s status.
The hearing also addressed a separate plea from the petitioners, represented by advocate Robin Raju, regarding an attack on a group of lawyers on October 21, which resulted in an FIR at Mehrauli Police Station.
The petition emphasizes the urgent need for the Advocates Protection Act in Delhi, citing a troubling trend of violence against legal professionals.
“The recent acts of violence against lawyers show the dire need for enactment of the Advocates Protection Act in Delhi,” stated the plea. It urged the court to intervene immediately, highlighting that the final draft of the Advocates Protection Act has been pending with the Delhi Law Minister since September 13.
Earlier, on April 12, the High Court had instructed both the Central and Delhi governments to respond to the petition and requested a status report from the Bar Council of Delhi.
The council informed the court that it was in the process of drafting the Advocates Protection Bill and consulting with public officials.
The plea underscores a significant increase in violent incidents within court premises, asserting that it is “high time” for decisive action to protect the legal community and alleviate their fears.
The petitioners expressed heightened anxiety after witnessing the brutal murder of a prominent lawyer, Virender Kumar Narwal, who was shot by two assailants in Dwarka on April 1.
The petition argues that the current climate of fear is hindering lawyers’ rights to practice their profession under Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution and violates Article 21, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.
It also referenced a law in Rajasthan that offers police protection to lawyers facing threats or violence, underscoring the necessity for similar legislation in Delhi.
“Only an Act that guarantees protection to the fraternity of lawyers practicing in Delhi will help remove the sense of fear embedded in the minds of practitioners, especially among young, first-generation lawyers,” the plea noted, referring to the rising incidence of shootings and altercations within court settings.
