Advocates are the backbone of the judicial system, yet they frequently face threats, intimidation, and violence while discharging their professional duties. In a significant move to ensure the fearless functioning of the legal profession, the Goa Legislative Assembly recently passed the Goa Advocates Protection Bill, 2026.

Here is a comprehensive breakdown of what this new legislation entails, how other states in India have addressed advocate protection, and where the Central Government stands on a nationwide law.

advocates

Key Provisions of the Goa Advocates Protection Bill, 2026

Moved by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant (who also holds the Law and Judiciary portfolio), the Bill seeks to prevent offences against advocates and protect their property. It classifies all offences committed under its provisions as cognisable.

  1. Stringent Penalties and Compensation
    The legislation imposes strict penalties to deter violence against legal professionals. Courts are also empowered to award compensation to victims from fines recovered, along with reimbursement for medical expenses and property damage.
  • Assault or Criminal Force: Imprisonment of up to 2 years and a fine of up to ₹55,000.
    Voluntarily Causing Grievous Hurt: Imprisonment of up to 7 years and a fine of up to ₹1 lakh.
    Criminal Intimidation / Harassment: Imprisonment of up to 2 years and a fine of up to ₹25,000.
    Threats Involving Death or Severe Injury: Imprisonment extending up to 7 years.
  1. Mandatory Police Protection
    Advocates facing credible threats can apply for police protection through a Sessions Court. Once granted, an officer below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) cannot reduce, withdraw, or discontinue this protection without prior court permission.
  2. Procedural Safeguards Against Misuse
    To prevent false or malicious litigation, the Bill incorporates essential checks and balances:
    Inquiry Before Registration: Before registering an FIR against an advocate for acts done in the line of duty, a preliminary inquiry must be conducted by an officer not below the rank of DSP within 7 days.
    Institutional Intimation: If a case is registered against a lawyer, the police must immediately notify the relevant Bar Council and Advocates Association.
    Penalties for False Complaints: Any advocate found misusing the law or filing a malicious complaint faces up to 1 year of imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Also Read-https://lawleaf.in/3-year-practice-rule-civil-judge-supreme-court/

Which Other States Have Passed or Attempted to Pass Similar Bills?

Since “Public Order” and “Police” fall under the State List in the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, individual states have taken the lead in enacting or proposing protective legislation:

Rajasthan (First State to Enact): In March 2023, Rajasthan became the first state in India to pass the Rajasthan Advocates Protection Act, 2023, following widespread lawyer protests after the murder of a practitioner in Jodhpur.
Karnataka: Enacted the Karnataka Advocates Protection Act in late 2023 to safeguard lawyers from physical assault and interference in court proceedings.
Telangana: Passed the Telangana Advocates Protection Act in March 2026 (notified in June 2026), incorporating provisions for medical assistance, social security measures, and criminal protection.
Other States in Pipeline: States like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar have witnessed ongoing agitation by Bar Associations demanding state-level Advocates Protection Acts, with draft bills actively under consideration by state cabinets and legal committees.

Central Government Stand & History of the Central Bill

Currently, there is no Central Advocates Protection Act passed by the Parliament of India.

  • The BCI Draft Advocates Protection Bill, 2021
    In July 2021, the Bar Council of India (BCI) constituted a 7-member committee that drafted the Advocates (Protection) Bill, 2021 and submitted it to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice. Key elements of the Central draft included:
  • Severe punishment for physical violence against lawyers (ranging from 6 months to 10 years for repeat offenders).
  • Presumption of innocence for lawyers acting in good faith.
  • Protection of professional client-lawyer communications from police interference.
  • Formation of a Redressal Committee for lawyer grievances at the District and High Court levels.
  • Social security benefits and insurance schemes for advocates during emergencies or epidemics.
  • Current Status at the Union Level
    Despite continuous demands from national legal bodies and Bar Associations, the Central Government has not introduced a central bill in Parliament. The Union Law Ministry’s general stance has been that existing penal provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (and formerly the IPC) adequately cover offences related to assault, intimidation, and grievous hurt, leaving specific law-and-order safeguards to individual state legislatures.

The enactment of the Goa Advocates Protection Bill, 2026 represents another milestone in a growing national movement toward ensuring legal safeguards for counsel. As state after state moves toward tailored legal protection, the pressure continues to build for a unified central statute that standardizes lawyer security across India.

Also Read- https://www.goavidhansabha.gov.in/bills.php