Goa Assembly clears bill stipulating 7-year jail for assault on lawyers

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The Goa Assembly has passed a bill prescribing stringent punishment for assaulting lawyers on duty, with up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh.

The Goa Advocates Protection Bill, 2026, moved in the House on Tuesday (September 1, 2026), provides police protection to advocates facing threats, while also incorporating safeguards against misuse, with false or malicious complaints punishable by up to one year’s imprisonment, a fine, or both.

There had been an increasing incidence of violence, intimidation, harassment, false implication and damage to property directed against advocates while discharging their professional duties.

Such acts, as per the bill, could affect the independence and fearless functioning of the legal profession and ultimately impair litigants' right to legal representation and access to justice.

The legislation makes every offence committed under its provisions cognisable and also provides for compensation to advocates from fines recovered by courts.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the Law and Judiciary portfolio, moved the bill, seeking to prevent offences against advocates and damage or loss to their property, and the House passed it by voice vote.

Under the proposed legislation, assault or use of criminal force against an advocate will attract imprisonment of up to two years and a fine of up to ₹55,000, while voluntarily causing grievous hurt can invite a jail term of up to seven years and a fine of up to ₹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 ₹25,000. If the threat involves death, grievous hurt or destruction of property, the jail term may extend to seven years.

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 is required to be completed within seven days, as per the bill.

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 bill 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.

At the same time, safeguards have been incorporated against misuse of the law. An advocate found to have misused its provisions or made a false or malicious complaint can face imprisonment of up to one year, a fine, or both.

The legislation also provides for police protection to an advocate facing threats. The protection can be sought from a sessions court, while an officer below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police cannot withdraw, reduce or discontinue the protection without prior permission of the court that granted it.