The forum is proposing a bill seeking protection for advocates, their relatives and employees in Kerala

The Kerala High Court Advocates Association (KHCAA) is bringing forward a bill to protect advocates and their family members or employees from assault, criminal force, intimidation and threats while performing their professional duties.

The Keralam Advocates Protection Bill, 2021 proposes a jail term of up to five years and a fine of ₹1 lakh. The bill also states that a person convicted of committing a violent act against lawyers, their family or employees will be required to pay compensation as determined by the appropriate court.

A violent act committed under the Act would be considered a non-bailable offence. Advocates, their family members or employees should immediately register a First Information Report (FIR) to be investigated by a police officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police. Any advocate who is in danger of becoming a victim should be given the necessary police protection for his life and property, it has been suggested.

Instant trigger

Although lawyers have been demanding legislation to protect them for a long time, the recent death of a lawyer’s father, allegedly in an attack on the lawyer for wanting to represent the estranged wife of one of the accused in a matrimonial dispute case in Kochi, served as the immediate trigger for the bill.

The bill, which was sent to all bar associations in the state, proposed that investigation of cases be completed within 90 days of registration of FIRs. Any criminal offense punishable by law can be filed by the injured person with the consent of the court. In granting permission to commit a crime, the court shall take into account the damage or loss caused to the property of the lawyer or his family members or employees, as suggested.

Any repeat offense by a person convicted under the Act is punishable with imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of not less than ₹2 million.

Any malicious prosecution initiated against the advocate will be treated as an offense of prohibited conduct under the law and the court concerned will refer the matter to the police for registration of an FIR, he suggested.

The KHCAA would convene a meeting next week to finalize the proposal and submit it to the state government, sources said.

Published – 12 October 2026 06:00 IST