No New Year celebrations till bill for protection is passed, say advocates

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Members of the 5-year law course advocate association stood their ground at the entrance of Mayo Hall, urging the government to promptly pass the Advocate Protection Bill; vowing to celebrate the New Year only with the passing of the bill.

The bill is a constitutional shield for advocates on the field, who are continuously facing anonymous threats and lack protection for the same. Despite the recent attacks on advocates, the government has allegedly given only lukewarm assurance of protection. A protest of the was held in Belagavi as well as Maurya Circle in the recent past.  

“We have a duty to protect every member of the society but we are unable to do this, until we feel safe, unless the police reduce their control over advocate matters and offer protection against various crimes targeted at us. Crimes against advocates have been committed over the last couple of years”, said Advocate Umesh, the president of 5-year law course, who had led the protests initially.  

“We are the walking constitution and we too, just like police and judiciary, deserve protection. Protection of advocates is the protection of judiciary”, said Ashok Kamath.

Mr. Kamath further mentioned that Revenue Minister R. Ashoka had assured them that the protection bill will be passed by January, but the advocates are not convinced by the statement of the minister.

The advocates additionally stated that the authorities believe that the advocates do not need protection and that they are being deprived of their rights as citizens of the country, thus the pillar of the constitution is being weakened.

“When one is protected, they can do their duty strongly and fairly, and do justice to the situation without feeling threatened. When we are protected, we can protect the society as the army of internal security”, Kamath added The advocates, who conducted the protest succinctly, mentioned that if their demands aren’t met, they will conduct a bigger protest.

They said that they will celebrate the New Year only once the bill gets implemented, which will grant them a new life to serve the people of the country, and the state.