Advocate body stages protest seeking statutory protection

Members of the Indian Association of Lawyers (IAL) staged a protest outside the District Court in Visakhapatnam on Friday, demanding the immediate enactment of the Advocate Protection Act in Andhra Pradesh.

The protesters said the demand for statutory protection had remained pending for over two decades and alleged that successive governments had failed to fulfil promises made during election campaigns. They contended that the absence of such legislation had made it increasingly risky for advocates to handle high-profile cases involving goons and political leaders.

The advocates also alleged that instances of lawyers being attacked or killed in public had created a climate of fear within the legal fraternity, discouraging them from representing vulnerable sections. They said the lack of legal protection emboldened lawless elements and encouraged illegal activities.

The protest, led by IAL president K. Suresh Kumar and coordinator Palaka Sreerama Murthy, was attended by about 100 advocates, including around 30 women.

Mr. Murthy said a memorandum was submitted to the District Collector for onward transmission to the Chief Justice of India, the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, and the Union and State Ministers for Law and Human Rights. The advocates said statutory protection was essential to enable lawyers to discharge their duties without fear and ensure access to justice for ordinary citizens.