Hyderabad is witnessing increasing concerns about the safety of lawyers. N Ramchander Rao, the President of the Telangana BJP, urged the state government, led by Congress, to introduce an “Advocates Protection Act.” He spoke at an event by the Kothagudem Bar Association on Wednesday, highlighting the rise in violence and threats faced by lawyers, stressing the need for urgent action.
Rao mentioned that after becoming party president, he wrote to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. He pointed to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh as examples where such laws exist. He also mentioned submitting a memorandum to the Governor for swift action.
Rao emphasized the important role lawyers have played in India’s history, including the independence struggle and the fight for Telangana statehood. He noted that advocates have been vital in social and political changes, saying, “Their contribution is deeply woven into our history and democracy.”
He also addressed the changing nature of politics, encouraging those interested in public service to join politics. Rao stated that politics should focus on service, not profits. He expressed concern over wealthy individuals and real estate moguls entering politics, noting that over 250 current MPs have legal backgrounds, highlighting the influence of advocacy in politics.
At the event, the Kothagudem Bar Association, led by Lakkeneni Satyanarayana, presented a list of demands to Rao. These included setting up a family court, a SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Special Court, and a labor court in Bhadradri Kothagudem. They also requested extending the health card scheme to new advocates and increasing medical insurance from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh per family.
The event wrapped up with calls for better representation of lawyers in policy decisions and stronger measures to protect and support their welfare.
