The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Delhi government to consider the objections raised by the lawyers practising in Delhi's trial courts to the draft Advocate Protection Bill 2024 [Deepa Joseph & Anr. Vs Union Of India & Ors].

Justice Sachin Datta took on record the objections filed by the Coordination Committee of All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi, an umbrella body representing the bar associations of various district courts in the national capital.

“Application filed to place on record the objections to draft of Advocate Protection Bill. Same will be considered by GNCTD for the purpose of framing an appropriate enactment,” the Court directed. 

It then listed the case for further hearing on January 8.

Justice Datta was hearing a petition filed by lawyers seeking directions to the Delhi government to enact a law for the protection of advocates.

The plea was filed after an advocate was murdered in April 2023. The petitioners stated that a safe atmosphere ought to be provided for advocates practising in Delhi.

In May 2023, the Bar Council of Delhi and the Coordination Committee submitted a draft Delhi Advocates Protection Bill, 2023 to the Law Minister of the Delhi government and the Chief Minister of Delhi.

In September 2024, the Department of Law under the Delhi goverrnment told the Court that the final draft of the Advocates' Protection Bill, 2024, has been prepared and sent for consideration of the Council of Ministers. 

In May 2025, the Court had directed the Delhi government to take expeditious steps for enacting the bill.

The Coordination Committee then filed an application raising objections to the draft bill. Among other objections, it stated that the definition of the term “act of violence” and "an advocate engaged by a client" in the draft bill was "restrictive and narrow".

Advocate KC Mittal appeared for the coordination committee today.