Gujarat Rental Bill Row: Ahmedabad Lawyers Boycott Court Work, Bhadra Court Access Blocked
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Lawyers across Ahmedabad stayed away from court proceedings on Wednesday to protest the Gujarat Rent Bill-2026, with advocates blocking the entrance to Bhadra court and stopping people from entering the complex.
The boycott was observed at Bhadra City Civil and Sessions Court, Small Causes Court, Family Court, Ahmedabad Rural Court and Metro Court. The Ahmedabad Criminal Courts Bar Association also passed a resolution to abstain from court work.
Three-Day Boycott Announced
The decision followed a joint extraordinary meeting of various Ahmedabad bar associations on Tuesday. Lawyers announced a three-day boycott of court work from Wednesday to October 2, opposing the Gujarat Rent Bill-2026.
Bar representatives said the new legislation could create difficulties for citizens as well as lawyers and decided to launch a protest against it.
Kiran Patel, secretary of the Bhadra City Civil and Sessions Court, Small Causes Court, Family Court and Ahmedabad Rural Court, along with Metro Court president Ishwar Desai and secretary Bharat Shah, said lawyers across the state's courts stayed away from proceedings.
At Bhadra court, lawyers sat at the entrance from the morning and closed the gates, preventing anyone from entering the court complex. Court work consequently remained suspended there.
The Ahmedabad Bar Association, Ahmedabad Small Causes Court Bar Association, Family Court Bar Association and Ahmedabad District Bar Association had formally passed resolutions to stay away from court work.
Lawyers Oppose Transfer of Judicial Powers
The protest centres on provisions of the Gujarat Rent Bill-2026, which was passed by the Gujarat Assembly and is currently awaiting the Governor's approval.
According to the protesting lawyers, the proposed law takes away the power of the City Civil Court to make preliminary decisions in rent-related matters and transfers it to administrative officials such as Assistant Collectors and Assistant Commissioners.
Lawyers have raised concerns that the change could cause difficulties for citizens and advocates. They have also expressed concerns over possible corruption and delays in the delivery of justice.
Statewide Protest Under Consideration
Lawyers are now considering expanding the agitation against the Gujarat Rent Bill-2026 across the state. Discussions are underway on organising protests and strikes at district and taluka levels in the coming days.
The lawyers' bodies have indicated that further programmes could be announced as the agitation develops.
