Lawyers across various courts had earlier launched a five-day protest
Advocates across the state had launched protests and court boycotts, with BCG and Gujarat High Court Advocates’ Association (GHCAA) leading the agitation.
Jayshankar Prajapati, president of Ahmedabad Small Causes Court Bar Association, said, “Govt has assured us that all the good provisions of the old Act (Gujarat Rent Control Act) and the new law (Gujarat Rent Bill) will be retained according to our suggestions, and the new law will be shaped by a five-member committee. Their principal objection was to the proposed transfer of jurisdiction over rental and tenancy disputes from civil and small causes courts to administrative and revenue authorities. The legal fraternity also opposed the bill on the grounds that rental and tenancy cases form a substantial part of civil litigation and that shifting them to executive forums could affect the practice and livelihood of lawyers, particularly juniors. The agitating advocates also argued that the govt had passed the bill in the assembly without prior consultation with bar councils and legal experts.