Overviewing Advocacy Standards- A quick glance at ‘Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023’

Overview: The legal profession in India is regulated by the Advocates Act of 1961, which was established based on the suggestions made by the All-Indian Bar Committee. This act consolidated various titles like vakil, lawyers, and barristers, bringing them all under the unified category of "Advocate."

In a recent development during the winter session of the Indian Parliament, the Advocates (Amendment) Bill of 2023 was introduced with the goal of streamlining the legal landscape in the country.

Both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha have given their approval to this bill, marking an important step in legal reform.

Additionally, the bill aims to streamline the legal profession by eliminating outdated legislation and consolidating legal occupations under the Advocates Act of 1961.

This amendment is expected to simplify the legal framework governed by the Act. Notably, the amendment bill repeals the Legal Practitioners Act of 1879, except for the provisions related to touts, and introduces a new Section 45A.

Key Provisions of the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023

The bill also introduces the provisions which empower the district court and high court judges to compile a list of individuals who engages in securing clients for legal professionals in exchange for compensation.

Relevant authorities can now instruct the lower courts to conduct investigations and detain those suspects of being involved in such activities, with the possibility of adding their names to the list of touts.

During the debate on the bill, Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Minister for Law and Justice of the Government of India, emphasized that the decision to repeal the Legal Practitioners Act of 1879 was based on its lack of practicality and usefulness.

Also read: The Advocate Amendment Bill 2023: Uncrating the implications

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