Yesterday, Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Advocates (Amendment) Bill in Parliament in light of the Central government's endeavour to repeal "all obsolete laws or pre-independence Acts" that have lost their utility.

The government, in consultation with the Bar Council of India (BCI), has decided to repeal the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879 and amend the Advocates Act, 1961. 

The Bill aims at incorporating the provisions of Section 36 of the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879 in the Advocates Act, 1961 in order to reduce the number of “superfluous enactments” on the statute books. 

Section 36 of the Legal Practitioners Act deals with the power to frame and publish lists of touts in courts.

Speaking to the media outside Parliament, Meghwal said,

"The Advocates (Amendment) Bill will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha. Section 36 deals with touts. The Bill will retain the provision. There are certain individuals in courts who influence judges, lawyers and litigants. One needs to be wary of such individuals’’