[Attacks on Lawyers in NCR] Bar Council of Delhi constitutes Special Committee to Draft Advocates Protection Act

The Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) on Thursday constituted a “Special Committee” to draft a 'comprehensive Advocates Protection Act', to ensure that the same is enacted by the Delhi government.

“All the members on realizing the ground realities and the situation were in favor of bringing Advocates Protection Act for advocates practicing in Delhi and NCR, enrolled with Bar Council of Delhi, on an urgent basis. For this purpose, the Council unanimously constituted a Special Committee to draft a comprehensive Advocates Protection Act, to ensure that the same is enacted by the Government of NCT of Delhi”, the BCD’s press release stated.

The above decision was taken days after Advocate Virender Narwal was shot dead in broad daylight in the city’s Dwarka area. Lawyers across Delhi have been abstaining from work in the Trial Court and Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), demanding the implementation of the Advocates Protection Act with immediate effect.

The BCD’s press release noted that the advocates are being attacked within and outside the court premises. The BCD also considered that the Rajasthan government has already enacted the Advocates Protection Act, 2023.

“The Bar Council of India (BCI) has also sent a proposal of Advocates Protection Act to the Government of India for its enactment”, the press note said.

According to the press release, the Special Committee will be headed by K.C Mittal, Former Chairman, of the Bar Council of Delhi, and the other members of the members of Special Committee (Advocates Protection Act) will include:

1. DK Sharma, Chairman, Executive Committee BCD;
2. Sanjay Rathi, Secretary BCD;
3. Ajayinder Sangwan, Co-Chairman BCD and;
4. Ajay Sondhi, Co-Chairman BCD.

“All the Hon’ble members of the Bar Council of Delhi and the office bearers of Coordination Committee of Bar Associations are requested to give their inputs”, the press release read.