New Delhi, February 22: The Ministry of Law & Justice has announced a revision of the Advocates (Amendment) Bill 2025, which seeks to amend the Advocates Act. A fresh round of public consultation will be conducted after incorporating the necessary changes.
The decision was formally communicated to the Bar Council of India (BCI) by the Union Law Ministry on Saturday. This move comes in response to widespread protests by bar associations and legal professionals opposing the Bill in its current form.
"Given the significant number of suggestions and concerns raised, the consultation process will be concluded at this stage. Based on the feedback received, a revised draft of the Bill will be prepared and reintroduced for stakeholder consultation," the Law Ministry stated in its communication to BCI.
Following this announcement, the BCI has urged lawyers and bar associations to cease ongoing protests and strikes.
In a press release, the BCI stated that Union Law Minister Arjun Meghwal has assured legal professionals that all contentious provisions will be thoroughly reviewed before the Bill is finalized.
"Considering the government's latest stance, the Bar Council of India requests all Bar Associations that have called for abstentions to resume court proceedings from Monday, February 24, 2025," the BCI added.
The draft Bill was initially published for public consultation on February 13 via the Department of Legal Affairs website. However, it faced severe criticism and opposition from the legal fraternity. Following discussions with the BCI, the Law Ministry has now agreed to reconsider and modify the proposed amendments.
