Lawyers in Nagpur staged a symbolic protest by wearing red ribbons at the District and Sessions Court to draw attention to a surge in violent attacks on advocates across Maharashtra. The demonstration followed a statewide call by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa urging immediate enforcement of the long-pending Advocates’ Protection Act.
Members of the Nagpur District Bar Association (DBA) abstained from routine work as they called on the state government to act. DBA president Roshan Bagde emphasized that repeated assaults—some fatal—have shaken the legal community. A recent incident in Shegaon, where a lawyer was brutally attacked during cross-examination, intensified concerns.
Although a draft of the Advocates’ Protection Act has been circulated and revised with input from various bar associations, lawyers say the state government has not taken concrete steps toward implementation. Despite public assurances from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, they report no visible progress while attacks continue.
The protest saw participation from numerous senior lawyers and former DBA leaders, who gathered outside the district court to demand urgent action to ensure the safety of legal professionals.