A new government-drafted Bar Law that stipulates tough punishments for lawyers violating regulations is set to be debated in Parliament.
The bill, which could replace the 45-year-old 1980 Bar Law, has been referred to the National Assembly by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.
Lawyers who flout rules could be given written warnings, fined up to BD10,000 or barred from the practise for up to three years. Their name could also be erased from accreditation records.
The Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Minister has the right to suspend a lawyer for up to 90 days to allow scrutiny of a complaint filed at the Judicial Disciplinary Council. If a verdict is issued, then the violating lawyer has the right to appeal.
Anyone impersonating as a lawyer could be jailed for up to a year, fined between BD500 and BD5,000 or both. Any unregistered lawyer, or those practising without a licence, could be jailed for up to a year, fined between BD300 and BD3,000, or both.
In both cases, the place of operations for bogus, unregistered or under-training lawyers should be closed for up to 30 days and all equipment would be seized.
Any individual or firm that allows illegal operations by unlicensed lawyers will be fined between BD1,000 and BD10,000.
Any verbal or physical assault on a lawyer will be treated similar to an attack on members of the judiciary, with punishments handed out accordingly.
Lawyers cannot be arrested or searched without orders from the Public Prosecution.
Meanwhile, MPs are also set to vote on another government-drafted legislation based on a parliamentary proposal to amend the 2019 Arbitration Law.
The amendment would establish a registry for authorised individual arbitrators at the Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry. It also highlights the eligibility criteria to get licensed as an arbitrator.
* Legislators are set to vote on a government-drafted amendment to the 2021 Civil and Commercial Execution Law, which seeks to form a judicial committee to address individual deportation cases.
* Also set for a vote is another government-drafted amendment to the 2022 Environment Law. It obliges the Supreme Council for the Environment to issue a ruling on any grievance from any decision taken, within 30 days. Those who are unsatisfied with the grievance ruling will have 60 days to file a case with the concerned court, rather than the present 30 days.
MPs are also set to debate and vote on the following proposals:
- Obliging the Education Ministry to purchase the campus of the rented Sanabis Primary School for Girls, presented by five MPs led by Mamdooh Al Saleh.
Education Minister Dr Mohammed Mubarak Juma said work to purchase the campus and an adjacent property were in process, pending relevant studies.
- Unifying road usage bans for trucks and heavy vehicles, presented by three MPs led by Lulwa Al Romaihi.
Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa said increasing ban hours in certain areas would affect trade, economic activity and logistics.
- Allocating government plot/plots for car dealerships, agencies and companies, presented by five MPs led by Bassema Mubarak.
- Launching a national fund to develop and support old residential areas, presented by five MPs led by Hamad Al Doy.
- Replacing expatriate workers in non-university degree jobs with Bahraini nationals within five years.
- A group of MPs, led by services committee vice-chairwoman MP Jalila Al Sayed, is urging the Industry and Commerce Ministry to reassess the capital requirements necessary for practising various business activities.
- Establishing a specialised centre for inventors to support innovation and technological advancement in the kingdom.
- Increasing nursing scholarships to strengthen the healthcare sector
- Introducing a special programme by Tamkeen (Labour Fund) to support the wages of Bahraini athletes and sports’ professionals.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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