By Savikalpa Thapa
The Central government has announced the revision of the proposed Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after the lawyers and the Bar Council of India (BCI) opposed it. This announcement was made after various lawyers’ associations across the country carried out protests and strikes, voicing concerns over several provisions of the bill.
On February 13, the Union Law Ministry presented a draft bill that would modernize the legal profession by amending the Advocates Act of 1961. However, the Legal professionals objected, especially to the definitions of “legal practitioner” and “law graduate,” as well as to clauses pertaining to regulatory supervision and strikes.
Critical Provisions of the Bill
The bill’s broadening of the definition of a legal practitioner, which would recognize professionals in statutory bodies, international law firms, corporate lawyers, and in-house counsel as legal practitioners, is its most controversial aspect.
Currently, only advocates, vakils, pleaders, and revenue agents are allowed to use the phrase.
Secondly, one of the clauses prohibits strikes and boycotts by advocates considering it as professional misconduct under the proposed Section 35A. One day protests would still be allowed, but ongoing strikes might result in disciplinary punishment.
The bill also integrates international law firms into the Indian legal system. It requires mandatory registration with Bar Associations, and suggests giving the central government more authority to nominate members to the Bar Council of India (BCI).
Lawyers in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and other parts of India, held strikes, demanding the withdrawal of these clauses.
A letter to the Law Minister by Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of BCI criticized the draft and stated that the draft intended to destroy the concept of autonomy and the independence of BCI.
Following the opposition and concerns, the Law Ministry announced that the draft bill was presented to the public to ensure consultation and the government now has decided to close the process and revise the draft with inputs from the stakeholders. Meanwhile, the BCI has urged lawyers to end their protests and resume work starting February 24.