📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Hossam el-Hamalawy
Politics
Gujarat lawyers protest new Rent Bill, halt courts in Surat and Vadodara
✍️ Bhaskar English
🗓 31 Oct 2026, 10:01 PM
👁 17
Lawyers across Gujarat have staged a protest against the newly introduced Rent Bill, leading to a shutdown of court proceedings in the cities of Surat and Vadodara.
A wave of lawyers from across Gujarat gathered on Thursday to demonstrate against the state government's recently announced Rent Bill. The protest, organized by the Gujarat High Court Bar Association, saw participants marching outside court complexes in Surat and Vadodara, demanding a withdrawal of the legislation.
The Rent Bill, which aims to overhaul tenancy regulations and increase rental caps, has been criticised by the legal fraternity for allegedly weakening landlord rights and lacking safeguards for tenants. Several senior advocates argued that the draft contains vague clauses that could be exploited in civil and criminal disputes.
In response to the demonstration, court officials in both Surat and Vadodara ordered a temporary suspension of all hearings, citing security concerns and the need to restore order. The stoppage affected pending civil, criminal and family law cases, leaving litigants awaiting further notice.
One of the protesting lawyers warned that certain provisions of the bill could be misused to file serious criminal complaints, including murder and cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The bar association has called for an immediate review of the bill and a dialogue with the state government before any further implementation.
The state government has not yet issued a formal response, but officials indicated that they will monitor the situation closely and engage with representatives of the legal community to address their concerns.
The Rent Bill, which aims to overhaul tenancy regulations and increase rental caps, has been criticised by the legal fraternity for allegedly weakening landlord rights and lacking safeguards for tenants. Several senior advocates argued that the draft contains vague clauses that could be exploited in civil and criminal disputes.
In response to the demonstration, court officials in both Surat and Vadodara ordered a temporary suspension of all hearings, citing security concerns and the need to restore order. The stoppage affected pending civil, criminal and family law cases, leaving litigants awaiting further notice.
One of the protesting lawyers warned that certain provisions of the bill could be misused to file serious criminal complaints, including murder and cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The bar association has called for an immediate review of the bill and a dialogue with the state government before any further implementation.
The state government has not yet issued a formal response, but officials indicated that they will monitor the situation closely and engage with representatives of the legal community to address their concerns.