Why is it in the news?
- Recently, the Lok Sabha passed the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, introduced by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
- The bill aims to amend the Advocates Act of 1961, which consolidates legislation related to legal professionals, establishes Bar Councils, and forms the All-India Bar.
Key Features of the Bill
- The bill repeals specific sections related to touts under the Legal Practitioners Act of 1879.
- Every High Court, district judge, sessions judge, district magistrate, and revenue officer (not below the rank of a district collector) is empowered to frame and publish lists of touts.
- The Court or judge may exclude from the premises of the Court any person whose name is included in the list of touts.
- Authorities empowered to frame and publish the list of touts may order subordinate courts to hold an inquiry into the conduct of persons alleged or suspected to be touts.
- Any person acting as a tout while his name is included in the list of touts will be subject to punishment, including imprisonment up to three months, a fine up to Rs 500, or both.
| Touts
· Touts are individuals who actively seek to persuade others to hire a particular lawyer and receive payment for providing this service. · They commonly operate around places like courts or government offices, offering their services to connect people with lawyers in exchange for monetary compensation. |
