'Enact Advocates Protection Act' : Karnataka Bar Council Demands After Lawyer's Killing In Hospet Court Premises

The Karnataka State Bar Council has condemned the brutal and horrific murder of Advocate Tarihalli Venkatesh, inside court premises on February 27, at Hospet in Karnataka.

In a statement issued by the Chairman L Srinivasa Babu the Council states that "Very often we are observing there were attacks on the Advocates in the State as well as in the Country. There was a brutal attack and murder of Advocates of Telangana and also murder on an Advocate of Mandya. Such attacks are increasing considerably which creates a threat on the Advocates to practice without fear and favour."

It adds "It proves that there exists a severe threat and attack on the independence of the Bar."

The note also mentions that "The frequent threats and attacks on the lawyers have established that the Advocates are not at all safe anywhere in the country. This is an onslaught on the freedom of the profession. It is proving to be exceedingly difficult and even fatal for the Advocates taking up the peoples cause. violation of fundamental rights. Repeated incidents are clear."

The Council has taken the matter very seriously and strongly condemns such acts. The Karnataka State Bar Council has again requested the Hon'ble Representative-Member of the Council of India from the Karnataka State Bar Council to pressurize the Bar Council of India to take up the matter with the Union Government and pass an order for an independent and impartial judicial inquiry into the incident.

It also wants the Bar Council of India to demand the Union Government to provide proper protection to the lawyers of the Country and to pass some Law for the protection of lawyers.

It is said"This is the high time when the Union and the State Government should take-up the issue with all sincerity failing which the Advocates of the country would take recourse of a countrywide agitation."

The Council said that it expects an appropriate response from the State Government to enact the "Advocates Protection Act at the earliest.

Two weeks back, a lawyer couple was hacked to death on a highway in broad daylight in Telangana. This gruesome incident prompted the Telangana High Court to take suo moto cognizance of the case to monitor the investigation.