Attacks on lawyers: Telangana lawyers push for protection laws

Hyderabad: The City Civil Court Bar Association in the city met and discussed ways to bring the Advocates Protection Act into effect, which will help lawyers perform their duties in a safe and fair manner.

City Civil Court Bar Association president Y Srinivasa Chary presided over the roundtable at the bar’s hall in Purani Haveli here on Saturday, with a focus on the recent attacks on advocates in Telangana State.

Speaking on the occasion, Telangana High Court Advocates Association’s former president Verose Raghunath said that the Advocates Protection Act is not just meant for lawyers but also for the proper administration of justice in a fair manner to all citizens.

‘2,000 lawyers killed in four years’

“Lawyers play a dynamic role in the administration of justice. Once the Advocates Protection Act becomes a reality, lawyers will be able to work fairly and fearlessly, providing justice to everyone in need. This is what the Central and State governments do not want,” Raghunath said.

“An advocate is an officer of the court. Advocates work round the clock and as administrators of justice, they are bound to implement justice in society. However, in the last four years, around 2,000 lawyers have been brutally murdered,” Raghunath added.

Stating examples of violence against lawyers, Raghunath said that it is the responsibility of the state to protect its lawyers.

Further, Raghunath spoke about the rise in conflicts around ownership of land. Police are trying to settle land issues without a lawyer which increases the rift among parties, he said.

Raghunath advised the advocates to form an Advocates Joint Action Committee to achieve the Advocates Protection Act.

‘Why is the Bar Council of India silent?’

Verose Raghunath lamented the silence of the Bar Council of India (BCI) on the Advocates Protection Act. The BCI ordering advocates to avoid speaking and raising their issues on a public platform is sad, said Raghunath.

Recently, during Independence Day celebrations, the Telangana High Court chief justice spoke about the Advocates Protection Act. Raghunath concluded his speech by stating that unless advocates demand change the State government will not bring statutes for their protection.

The roundtable was also attended by former advocate general BS Prasad, Telangana Bar Council vice chairman Sunil Goud, AMACS directors Armula Maheshwar, Thornala Giri, senior advocate B Shankar, Civil Court Bar Association general secretary Dubbaka Harshavardhan and others.