The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association has decided to abstain from work on February 24 in protest against the proposed Advocates (Amendment) Act, 2025. This decision was taken unanimously by the executive of the association on February 21. The lawyers say that there are many such provisions in the Advocate Act, which will tarnish the image of the advocacy profession.
There is not a single welfare scheme for lawyers in the bill. It should be withdrawn. Actually, the Central Government is going to amend the Advocate Act 1961. A large section of lawyers is opposing it.
Acting President of Punjab Haryana High Court Bar Association Jasdev Singh Brar and Honorary Secretary Swarn Singh Tiwana said that this decision of the Center is not right. Because they believe that it has harmful provisions for lawyers and the judiciary.
The Center sought suggestions from the people
The Central Government is preparing to bring an amendment bill to change the Advocate Act of 1961. When the final draft of the bill was released for suggestions from the people, lawyers across the country have come out in protest against the bill. The protest against the bill started from Delhi and has spread to 14 states of the country.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has demanded the central government to withdraw this bill. If the central government does not withdraw the bill, lawyers will go on strike across the country.
These five major changes will be made in the Act..
1. Ban on strike-boycott Section 35A of the new bill prohibits a lawyer or lawyers’ organization from boycotting the court, going on strike or suspending work. Violation of this will be considered misconduct of the legal profession and disciplinary action can be taken for it.
2. Professional misconduct If someone suffers loss due to professional misconduct, then under section 45B of the bill, a complaint can be filed in BCI for action against the lawyer due to professional misconduct.
3. Definition of legal practitioner The definition of legal practitioner (section 2) will become broader in the new bill. In this, along with the practice of law in the court, corporate lawyers, in-house consultants, people engaged in legal work in statutory bodies and foreign law firms will also be considered legal practitioners.
4. Government monitoring on lawyers There is a proposal to amend Section 4 of the Advocate Act 1961. This will give the Center the right to nominate 3 members along with the elected members in BCI. This will enable the Center to direct BCI in implementing the provisions of the law.
5. One time-one vote policy A new section 33A has been added to the bill. According to this, all lawyers practicing in courts, tribunals and other authorities will have to register with the bar association where they practice law.
If the lawyer changes the city, he will have to inform the bar association within 30 days. No lawyer will be able to be a member of more than one bar association. A lawyer will be allowed to vote in only one bar association. Lawyers are considering this as an interference of the Center in their freedom and right to vote.
