The Goa Assembly passed a law to protect advocates from assault, threats and property damage while on duty. It adds police protection and compensation safeguards while punishing false complaints to prevent misuse.
The Goa Assembly has passed a bill that prescribes stringent punishment for assaulting lawyers on duty, including up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
The Goa Advocates Protection Bill, 2026 also provides for police protection to advocates facing threats and includes safeguards against misuse, with false or malicious complaints punishable by up to one year’s imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The bill was introduced in the House on Tuesday by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the Law and Judiciary portfolio, and was passed by voice vote.
Sawant said there had been an increasing incidence of violence, intimidation, harassment, false implication and damage to property directed against advocates while discharging their professional duties. He said such acts could affect the independence and fearless functioning of the legal profession and impair litigants’ right to legal representation and access to justice.
Under the legislation, assault or use of criminal force against an advocate will attract imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to Rs 55,000, while voluntarily causing grievous hurt can invite a jail term of up to seven years and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh.
Criminal intimidation or harassment of an advocate will be punishable with imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to Rs 25,000. If the threat involves death, grievous hurt or destruction of property, the jail term may extend to seven years.
The bill makes every offence under its provisions cognisable and also provides for compensation to advocates from fines recovered by courts. It also provides for recovery of damages for loss or damage caused to an advocate’s property and reimbursement of medical expenses, as determined by the court.
When a cognisable offence is reported against an advocate for an act done during the discharge of professional duties, the complaint can be registered only after an inquiry by a police officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
The inquiry has to be completed within seven days. If a case is registered, the Bar Council and the advocates’ association of which the lawyer is a member will have to be informed.
The legislation also provides for police protection to an advocate facing threats. The protection can be sought from a sessions court, and an officer below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police cannot withdraw, reduce or discontinue it without prior permission of the court that granted it.
At the same time, an advocate found to have misused the law or made a false or malicious complaint can face imprisonment of up to one year, a fine, or both. The bill will come into force on a date to be notified by the government in the official gazette.
India: Goa passes Bill to protect lawyers, up to 7-year jail for attacks on advocates
