Bar Council of Delhi committee prepares advocates’ protection bill

The said committees shall consist of a ‘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 the Bar Council of Delhi. For the high court, the committee shall comprise 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 the 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.

This setup will act as and when any incident happens in court premises and would make all efforts to resolve the same, the press release states. However, if the situation warrants, the committee may refer the matter to the 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 bill also aims to protect advocates from illegal arrest and malicious prosecution and this protection will not be available to those who are involved in any vocation, trade, activity, business etc. The bill also defines acts of violence, offenders, punishment and provides for compensation as well as police protection to advocates in cases of threats.

On April 6, the BCD had constituted a ‘special committee’ headed by advocate K C Mittal, former BCD chairman, and four other members to draft a comprehensive Advocates Protection Act to ensure that the same is enacted by the Delhi government.