Ahmedabad, October 7, 2026: Court proceedings across Gujarat were disrupted this week as lawyers launched a statewide protest against the Gujarat Rent Bill, 2026, passed by the state Assembly on September 11.
Why are lawyers protesting?
The main objection is not the concept of a new rent law itself, but a provision that would shift the power to decide landlord–tenant disputes away from civil and Small Causes Courts and into the hands of administrative/revenue officials, including officers at the Deputy Collector or municipal level.
Lawyers argue that:
- Judicial powers are being transferred to executive authorities.
- Rent disputes could be decided by officials who do not ordinarily conduct judicial trials.
- Lawyers are concerned about how evidence, legal arguments and judicial precedents would be handled.
- They believe the change could weaken judicial safeguards for both landlords and tenants.
- The Bar also objected to the Bill being passed without what it considered adequate consultation with the legal fraternity.
What happened during the strike?
The Bar Council of Gujarat supported the agitation, and lawyers across the state abstained from court work. The Gujarat High Court Advocates’ Association also announced a boycott, while proceedings in several courts were affected and matters were adjourned.
The issue escalated to the Gujarat High Court, where Advocate General Kamal Trivedi told the Court that the government had assured the Bar Council that the Bill would not be allowed to proceed in its existing form and that efforts would be made to restore the earlier law.
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The government subsequently assured the Bar Council that the disputed powers would be restored to the judiciary. A committee involving representatives of the Bar Council and relevant court bar associations is expected to examine amendments to the Bill. Following the assurance, the Bar Council called for lawyers to resume normal court work from October 7.
In short:
Gujarat lawyers went on strike because they believe the proposed Rent Bill takes rent-dispute adjudication away from judges and gives it to executive/revenue officials. The government has now assured the Bar that this provision will be reconsidered and judicial powers restored.
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