After Court Boycott, Ahmedabad Lawyers Take To Streets To Protest Gujarat Rent Bill 2026

Hundreds of lawyers in Ahmedabad marched from the City Civil and Sessions Court, District Rural Court and Metropolitan Court as the legal fraternity intensified its protest against the Gujarat Rent Bill 2026, with advocates abstaining from court proceedings and disrupting the functioning of courts across Ahmedabad and nearby districts.

Lawyers Demand Rollback Or Major Changes

The Ahmedabad Bar Association and the Small Cause Court Bar Association have called for either a complete withdrawal of the proposed legislation or significant structural changes.

The work boycott has affected court proceedings, with thousands of pending cases reportedly impacted as lawyers stayed away from hearings.

The associations have framed their protest as a public-interest issue, raising concerns over judicial independence and the additional administrative burden that could arise from the proposed changes.

Bar Bodies Question Lack Of Consultation

The legal bodies have argued that the existing Rent Act has been amended periodically to address changing requirements.

Since the proposed legislation would apply across Gujarat, the associations said consultations should have been held with the Bar Council of Gujarat (BCG), advocate associations, members of the public and the Gujarat High Court before introducing major changes.

They alleged that the consultation process was bypassed.

Lawyers Raise Separation Of Powers Concern

One of the central objections relates to the proposed involvement of administrative authorities in judicial functions.

Lawyers have argued that judicial proceedings must remain independent of executive and administrative control. They have particularly opposed assigning judicial responsibilities to Deputy Collectors and Deputy Municipal Commissioners, saying these officials are already burdened with administrative responsibilities.

The associations contend that giving such authorities judicial powers could undermine the separation between the executive and judiciary.

Questions Over Rent Courts And Small Cause Courts

The legal fraternity has also questioned the proposed mechanism for handling landlord-tenant disputes.

Rent Courts were established specifically to deal with such disputes, while appellate jurisdiction currently rests with Small Cause Courts.

According to the protesting associations, the proposed bill could create a separate mechanism requiring additional and potentially redundant infrastructure.

They have also raised questions over the statutory position of Small Cause Courts operating under the Presidency Small Cause Courts Act.

Lawyers Warn Of Impact On Judicial Independence

The associations have stressed that public confidence in the justice system depends on an independent judiciary.

They have warned that transferring judicial jurisdiction to executive administrators could affect judicial integrity and raise broader concerns over the separation of powers.

The continuing protest has brought court activity in Ahmedabad and nearby districts to a halt in several matters, as lawyers press for the Gujarat Rent Bill 2026 to be withdrawn or substantially revised.