Hyderabad, July 23 -- The Telangana High Court has held that the state's law protecting advocates is meant to shield them from violence and intimidation they face while doing their professional work, and cannot be used to block investigation or arrest in criminal cases where lawyers themselves are accused of illegal acts.

Justice T Madhavi Devi dismissed a petition filed by an advocate seeking protection from arrest and other coercive action in a case involving allegedly fake government orders.

"The said enactment is not meant for the purpose of protection of advocates against action for alleged illegal activities carried on by them," the judge observed, referring to the Telangana Advocates Protection Act, 2026.

Background of case

The...