The lawyers practising in district courts in Delhi have decided to abstain for the second consecutive day on Tuesday (February 18, 2025) against the recent draft of the Advocates (Amendment) Bill proposed by the Union Law Ministry.

The protesting lawyers say that the bill prohibits advocates from boycotting and abstaining from court’ work which is against their rights.

A circular issued by the coordination committee of all District Courts Bar Association of Delhi says that the decision to boycott the judicial work was taken in a crucial and emergent meeting of held on Sunday (February 18, 2025).

“It was unanimously resolved and decided that the Advocates shall completely abstain from judicial work for tomorrow also i.e., 18.02.2025 in all District Courts of Delhi, against proposed unjust, unfair and biased Advocate Amendment Bill, 2025 proposed by Govt. of India recently,” the circular reads.

It termed the Advocate Amendment bill as totally against the unity, integrity and dignity of Advocates but also draconian in nature. It will directly affect the autonomy of all Bar Associations and Bar Council of all states.

The committee also requested all Judicial Officers to cooperate and not to pass any adverse order in the cases listed on January 18, 2025.

The lawyers are protesting against various Amendments made in the said bill but the important contention is the insertion of section 35 which prohibition on the boycotts or abstention from courts work.

The insertion, however, allows lawyers to participate in strikes only when it does not impede the administration of justice such as strikes intended to bring attention to legitimate concerns about professional conduct, working conditions, or administrative matters and may include symbolic or one-day token strikes, as long as they are conducted in a way that does not disrupt court proceedings or violate clients’ rights.

Proposed by the Law Ministry, the draft Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2025 is open to comments till February 28.