"Advocates' Protection Bill Ready": Chief Minister VD Satheesan Announces At KHCAA Felicitation Programme

The Chief Minister of Kerala V.D. Satheesan has assured that adequate protection would be given to lawyers in the State and announced that the Advocates' Protection Bill is ready to be introduced in the Assembly soon.

"We will protect the interest of the lawyers also...the Advocate Protection Bill is also ready. I think it will be passed, don't worry. We will give sufficient protection to the lawyers," CM spoke at a felicitation event 'Prathibha 2026', organised by the Kerala High Court Advocates Association (KHCAA).

On Thursday (July 23), the KHCAA organised the event to honour its members, who got elected to the State Legislative Assembly elections as well as the Bar Council of Kerala.

The dignitaries who got felicitated included CM Satheesan, Minister for Cooperation and Excise, Liju M., Minister for Fisheries, Harbour Engineering and Social Justice, V.E. Abdul Gafoor, as well as MLAs Mathew Kuzhalnadan, Chandy Oommen and Fyzal Babu V.K.

The Chief Minister also spoke about the government's intention to set up admiralty and arbitration courts in the State as well as to develop academic programmes in the field of Maritime Law, Logistics, Legal History, Admiralty and Arbitration.

Responding to KHCAA President Peeyus A. Kottam's request to consider certain issues faced by the advocates, including the space constraints in the High Court and reduction of the recently hiked court fees, the CM assured that all the requests would be duly considered.

The CM was adorned with the traditional ponnada by Kerala High Court Chief Justice Soumen Sen and he was also presented with a plaque. Justice Sen also gave the special address at the event.

In his speech, Justice Sen spoke about the values that are earned with the practice of the legal profession:

"Within the presence of this Court, they learned the discipline of preparation, the art of persuasion, patients and above all, the ethics and responsibilities of the profession...Every accomplished career has a modest beginning, every senior advocate, every public representative, and every constitutional functionaries once waited in the corridors of a court for a matter to be called, prepared briefs late in the night and learned from both success and disappointment. The legal profession offers no shortcuts but it offers limitless possibilities to those who preserve with dedication and pursue their passion. This perseverance is the hallmark of success...The Bar has always been a nursery of leadership in our country...The distinguished personalities present today exemplify that tradition. Their journeys remind us that the courtroom is not merely a place where disputes are resolved but also where leadership is nurtured. At the same time, professional success carries with it a continuing responsibility to remain connected with the institution that shaped us."

The felicitation address was delivered by Advocate General K. Jaju Babu. His speech highlighted the many examples where lawyers have went on to become national leaders, in India and in other countries also.

"Numerous prominent Indian politicians have transitioned from legal profession to state govern-ship or parliamentary roles. In our case, as pointed out by the KHCAA president, there is a uniqueness. For the first time, in the history of the State, a member of the KHCAA becomes a Chief Minister and three members of the bar association has now become ministers of the State...From court room to the Assembly Hall, all of you have proved that true leaders are moulded not by anything else other than integrity, and advocacy," said the AG.

V.E. Abdul Gafoor, Mathew Kuzhalnadan, Chandy Oommen and Fyzal Babu V.K. as well as KHCAA President Kottam gave speeches on the occasion.

Minister Gafoor spoke about how he was inspired to pursue a profession in law by his uncle Senior Advocate V.K. Beeran, who had earlier served as Additional Advocate General. He also reminiscence his own experiences attending similar events with his colleagues.

In his speech, MLA Kuzhalnadan mentioned the lessons that he learnt as a lawyer: "Being a student of law, we try to become very specific on the issues that we cite, and we always go prepared, which we learnt from the court."

MLA Oommen spoke about how he was an accidental lawyer and that his aim, even during school days, was to become a politician.

"Usually, when an advocate does well, he may become a judge. Our Chief Minister has proved that when an advocate does well, he can also become the Chief Minister...I always said I wanted to be a politician from my school days. I will not say I was a passionate lawyer, I did not fully commit myself to be a lawyer but I am very proud of this fraternity, who work for the poor, needy and voiceless," he added.

MLA Babu's speech also touched upon the values earned during the practice of law. He said: "What I observed of the values from the legal professions, is of course sharpness, integrity, fairness, constitutional morality and serving welfare, rule of law."

KHCAA Secretary Nima Jacob gave the welcome speech and the Association Vice-President Nazeeba O.H. delivered the vote of thanks.