PANAJI
The State government on Monday introduced a Bill seeking statutory protection for lawyers against assault, harassment, intimidation and damage to their property while discharging professional duties, with stringent penalties including imprisonment upto 7 years proposed for offenders.
At the same time, the proposed law contains a safeguard against misuse. An advocate who misuses its provisions or makes a false or malicious complaint could face up to one year’s imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The Goa Advocates Protection Bill, 2026, was introduced in the Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the Law and Judiciary portfolio.
Under the proposed legislation, where a cognizable offence is alleged against an advocate for an act done while discharging professional duties, the complaint can be registered only after an inquiry by a police officer not below the rank of DySP. The inquiry has to be completed within seven days, following which the Bar Council and the concerned Advocates Association would have to be informed if a case is registered.
The proposed penalties include up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 55,000 for assault or criminal force, while voluntarily causing grievous hurt could attract up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh. Criminal intimidation or harassment could attract up to two years and a fine of up to Rs 25,000; where the threat involves death, grievous hurt or destruction of property, imprisonment could extend to seven years.
“In recent years, there has been an increasing incidence of violence, intimidation, harassment, false implication and damage to property directed against advocates on account of the discharge of their professional duties,” the Bill stated.
“Such acts have an adverse effect on the independence and fearless functioning of the legal profession and pose a serious threat to the orderly administration of justice. Interference with advocates in the lawful discharge of their duties ultimately impairs the fundamental right of litigants to legal representation and access to justice,” it added.
The Bill also proposes that all offences under the Act will be cognizable. Courts may order the fine recovered from an offender to be paid as compensation to the advocate. An offender would additionally be liable to pay damages for property loss or damage and reimburse medical expenses as determined by the court.
“The Bill aims to create a balanced statutory mechanism that safeguards advocates from targeted violence and harassment, while simultaneously preventing abuse of such protection through appropriate checks and penalties,” the government states in the Bill.
