Centre For Protection Of Professionals: Meghwal

HYDERABAD: Union law minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Friday said that the Centre had referred the issue of ensuring better protection for advocates, doctors and engineers to the Law Commission of India for a detailed study. The move, he said, reflects the Centre’s commitment to enabling professionals to perform their duties without fear or intimidation. The minister was addressing a meeting of the BJP legal cell at the state party office at Nampally, where members sought Central intervention for the implementation of the Advocate Protection Act in Telangana following increasing attacks on lawyers.

The meeting was attended by BJP MPs Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, M. Raghunandan Rao, Dr K. Laxman, legal cell convener Rama Rao, Telangana Bar Council president Narasimha Reddy, vice-president Sunil Goud and others.

Responding to demands for extending medical insurance and providing stipends to young advocates during the early stages of their careers, Meghwal said the government was working on a feasible financial assistance scheme with possible contributions from the Bar Council of India. He acknowledged that the absence of clear data on the number of practicing lawyers—estimated between 20 and 27 lakh—had delayed such initiatives. Meghwal also announced a hike in fees for standing counsel representing the Union government in the state.

Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, who spoke at the meeting, said the next three years would be crucial for Telangana and urged the BJP legal cell members to protect Central interests and uphold the party’s image amid growing political challenges. He described this phase as politically decisive for the BJP as it prepares to counter stiff opposition. BJP Telangana president N. Ramchander Rao voiced concern over politically motivated assaults on advocates and urged the Centre to press the state government to implement the Advocate Protection Act.

BJP Rajya Sabha member Laxman called on the legal fraternity to strengthen the spirit of swadeshi and contribute to the goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, noting that some foreign nations were imposing unfair trade tariffs in response to India’s economic rise.