Rajasthan on Tuesday became the first State in the country to enact a law granting protection to advocates from assault and grievous hurt.
The Advocates Protection Bill was tabled in the State legislative assembly last week and passed on Tuesday by voice vote.
The bill was introduced after lawyers boycotted courts for over a month after a spate of attacks. The boycott has been called off after the bill was passed.
According to LiveLaw, in case of causing grievous hurt to an advocate, the bill proposes a maximum imprisonment of seven years and a fine of ₹50,000. In case of assault on a lawyer, the maximum punishment will be imprisonment of two years and a fine of ₹25,000.
The bill also proposes punishment for criminal force and intimidation against a lawyer.
The Bill has been passed with amendments including the provision of ‘assault on court premises’ deleted and punishment for lawyers for misuse of the Act has been reduced from three years to two years.
Rajasthan law minister Shanti Dhariwal said Rajasthan is the first state where such a law has been brought for the protection of advocates.
He said for the welfare of the advocates, Rs 5 crore is given by the state government to the Bar Council every year.
He informed the House that the provisions of the Bill have been prepared after detailed discussions with advocates.
