ADV. GEETHA RAJ
MANIFESTO FOR THE BAR
“Welfare with Dignity • Justice with Speed • Practice with Protection”
VISION STATEMENT
Adv. Geetha Raj envisions a progressive, accountable, and future-ready Bar Council that genuinely
protects its members while strengthening the delivery of justice. Under the guiding banner “Welfare
with Dignity • Justice with Speed • Practice with Protection,” her vision is to build a Bar where
every advocate, and every advocate’s family, is treated with respect, fairness, and urgency.
This vision bridges modern advocacy with grassroots support, ensuring that even the most vulnerable
lawyers have swift access to welfare benefits, comprehensive health security, and meaningful
post-practice protection, while also safeguarding the integrity of the legal profession against
misuse, impersonation, and unauthorised practice.
It is a vision of Courts where women Advocates work in safe and inclusive environments, young lawyers
are mentored rather than marginalised, professional dignity is upheld, and dispute resolution is
efficient, ethical, and dignified, supported by a Bar Council that actively engages with
institutions of the State to protect justice from within.
A future-ready Bar must protect Advocates not only in court, but in health, hardship, and retirement.
Welfare without security is incomplete.
MISSION STATEMENT
Adv. Geetha Raj’s mission is to translate vision into action by reforming Bar welfare systems,
strengthening professional security, mentoring the next generation of Advocates, and streamlining
the administration of justice. Drawing on her decades of courtroom experience, institutional
representation, and insurance-law expertise, she is committed to delivering measurable outcomes
rather than rhetoric.
Her mission includes modernising Bar administration through transparency and technology, establishing
robust support structures for young and women Advocates, institutionalising health insurance,
pension security, and advocate-protection frameworks, and strengthening mediation and pro bono
services so that justice reaches every citizen.
Equally, she is committed to active legislative and policy engagement, working with Bar Associations
and State institutions to eliminate unauthorised practice of law, protect Advocates from violence
and intimidation, and reinforce public trust in the legal profession. Through accountable governance
and consistent institutional dialogue, she aims to restore confidence in the Bar Council as a body
that truly serves, protects, and empowers its members.
ABOUT ADV. GEETHA RAJ : EXPERIENCE THAT DELIVERS
Adv. Geetha Raj was enrolled as an Advocate in 1998 and began her professional journey under the
mentorship of the highly respected Senior Advocate Mr. G. Papi Reddy. She holds both a Law Degree
and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from University Law College, Bengaluru, and brings over two decades of
active courtroom experience across multiple jurisdictions and diverse practice areas.
Her practice spans Civil and Criminal Courts, the High Court of Karnataka, various Tribunals and
Statutory Authorities, as well as appearances before the Supreme Court of India. This wide exposure
has equipped her with a deep, practical understanding of procedural complexities, institutional
functioning, and the everyday challenges faced by advocates across forums.
Adv. Geetha Raj serves as Standing Counsel for Public Sector Companies and regularly represents Life
Insurance Companies, handling complex institutional, regulatory, and claim-related litigation.
Alongside her institutional practice, she has consistently rendered pro bono legal services to the
poor and underprivileged, reflecting a sustained commitment to access to justice and professional
responsibility.
Over the years, Adv. Geetha Raj has handled a diverse and evolving spectrum of legal work, including:
- Insurance Law (Health, Life & General Insurance): Adv. Geetha Raj has extensive
experience in health, life, and general insurance disputes, including challenges to claim
repudiation, interpretation of policy terms, deficiency of service claims, regulatory compliance
issues, and litigation before consumer fora, civil courts, and writ courts. Her work in this
area involves close engagement with insurance companies, public sector undertakings, and
regulatory frameworks, combining technical policy analysis with effective litigation
strategy.
She has been involved in several significant and precedent-setting matters
where important legal principles governing insurance liability and claim adjudication were
examined and laid down by constitutional and apex courts, contributing meaningfully to the
development of insurance jurisprudence.
- Writ Jurisdiction and Public Law Remedies: Regular handling of matters under
Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, involving constitutional, administrative, and
regulatory challenges before the High Court of Karnataka. This includes challenges to arbitrary
State action, violation of statutory duties, jurisdictional errors by authorities and tribunals,
and enforcement of fundamental and legal rights.
- Medical Negligence and Healthcare Litigation : Representation in medical
negligence claims involving hospitals, doctors, and healthcare institutions. Her practice covers
issues of professional liability, standards of care, informed consent, and compensation, before
consumer fora, civil courts, and appropriate writ jurisdictions.
- Product Liability and Consumer Protection: Handling of product liability
disputes and consumer protection matters, including defective goods, unfair trade practices,
service deficiencies, and compensation claims, reflecting a strong grasp of consumer
jurisprudence and evolving liability standards.
- Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): Advisory and dispute-resolution work
relating to intellectual property rights, including enforcement, infringement-related issues,
and strategic advisory support, particularly in the context of commercial and professional
practices.
- Cyber Law, Digital Compliance & Economic Offences: Advisory and litigation
support in matters concerning cyber fraud, data misuse, online impersonation, and
technology-enabled offences. This includes compliance guidance, dispute resolution, and court
proceedings involving electronic records, digital transactions, and emerging technology-related
legal issues.
- Matrimonial and Family Law Matters: Sensitive handling of matrimonial and
family disputes, including divorce, maintenance, custody, guardianship, and child welfare
proceedings. Her approach emphasises child-centric outcomes, dignity of parties, and, wherever
possible, mediation and amicable resolution, balancing legal rigour with human sensitivity.
Adv. Geetha Raj is also a trained Mediator empanelled with the Karnataka Mediation Centre, with a
strong focus on dignified dispute resolution and effective settlement practices. In parallel, she
actively contributes to the training and mentoring of law students, interns, and young advocates,
bridging academic learning with courtroom realities.
Since 2009, Adv. Geetha Raj has been the Founder and Principal of Geetha Raj & Associates, a
Bengaluru-based law firm operating from 5th Cross, Magadi Road. Under her leadership, the firm has
evolved into a structured professional practice comprising associates, interns, and collaborating
counsel across India. Her role encompasses not only active litigation but also practice development,
supervision of complex matters, and mentorship, reflecting institutional maturity and professional
standing.
Her long-standing experience in leading a team-based legal practice keeps her closely connected to
the real-world functioning of courts, advocate welfare concerns, and systemic inefficiencies within
Bar administration.
This combination of courtroom depth, institutional representation, subject-matter diversity,
mediation expertise, and sustained professional leadership equips Adv. Geetha Raj to contribute to a
Bar Council that is responsive, transparent, and genuinely protective of its members.
INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
Early in her professional career, Adv. Geetha Raj was elected as an Office Bearer of the Indian
Federation of Women Lawyers (IFWL) through a democratic process. During her tenure, she actively
contributed to strengthening professional capacity within the Bar by organising multiple workshops
and training programmes for advocates across Karnataka, in collaboration with the Karnataka Judicial
Academy. These initiatives focused on practical courtroom skills, legal updates, and professional
development, reflecting her early and sustained commitment to collective institutional growth and
peer-driven leadership.
Adv. Geetha Raj currently serves her second consecutive term as an elected Director on the Board of
NyayamitraSahakari Bank, a cooperative bank established and run by the advocate fraternity. Her
election through member voting reflects the trust and confidence reposed in her by the advocate
community. During her tenure, she has been actively involved in streamlining banking operations,
strengthening internal governance, and improving service delivery to advocate-members.
Under the collective stewardship of the Board, the Bank has:
- expanded financial support to members through housing, mortgage, and auto loans;
- enhanced individual and group loan limits to better meet members’ professional and personal
needs;
- improved operational efficiency and financial discipline; and
- achieved sustained profitability, enabling the declaration of 16% dividends to its members.
Her role on the Board reflects not only financial prudence but also her demonstrated ability to
manage member-driven financial institutions with accountability, transparency, and long-term vision.
In recognition of her subject-matter expertise, Adv. Geetha Raj has been invited by Public Sector
Insurance Companies to deliver training presentations to officers across Karnataka on identifying,
handling, and preventing fraudulent insurance claims. This reflects the confidence reposed in her by
institutional stakeholders beyond the courtroom and highlights her contribution to strengthening
ethical and effective claims management.
She has also been awarded “Best Panel Advocate” by The New India Assurance Company Ltd., in
recognition of her exemplary conduct of cases, professional integrity, and consistent performance.
Adv. Geetha Raj has twice contested for the post of Director, NyayamitraSahakari Bank Niyamitha, and
was elected on both occasions. In February 2025, she contested for the post of Treasurer of the
Advocates Association, Bengaluru. Though she narrowly missed the position, she was humbled and
deeply touched by the overwhelming support, votes, and trust bestowed upon her by members of the
Bar. While the post eluded her, the goodwill and confidence earned remain her greatest victory.
LAW CHAMBERS
Geetha Raj & Associates
5th Cross, Magadi Road,
Bengaluru – 560 023
📞 +91 96633 81828
✉️ advgeetharaj@gmail.com
EXPERTISE AND CREDENTIALS
Adv. Geetha Raj brings a rare combination of long-standing courtroom practice, institutional
representation, subject-matter depth, and practice leadership, equipping her for effective Bar
Council governance.
- Advocate with Extensive Courtroom Experience: Enrolled in 1998, she has over
two decades of continuous practice before constitutional courts, civil and criminal courts, and
statutory tribunals, including appearances before the High Court of Karnataka and the Supreme
Court of India, giving her first-hand insight into procedural bottlenecks and systemic
inefficiencies affecting Advocates.
- Advanced Legal Training & Subject-Matter Depth: She holds a Master Degree in
Law (LL.M.) and has substantial professional engagement in insurance law, intellectual property,
cyber law, medical negligence, consumer protection, and public law remedies, areas that
increasingly define modern litigation and regulatory practice.
- Institutional & Public Sector Representation: As Standing Counsel for Public
Sector Undertakings and Life Insurance Companies, she has extensive experience in government
liaison, regulatory compliance, and high-stakes institutional litigation, strengthening her
capacity to engage effectively with State authorities and policymakers.
- Certified Mediator: She is a trained and empanelled Mediator with the Karnataka
Mediation Centre, bringing practical expertise in alternative dispute resolution, settlement
structuring, and court-annexed mediation, an essential component of justice reform and pendency
reduction.
- Founder & Practice Leader: Since 2009, she has been the Founder and Principal
of Geetha Raj & Associates, leading a structured, team-based legal practice with associates,
interns, and collaborating counsel across India. Her experience in mentoring young lawyers,
supervising complex matters, and maintaining professional standards reflects proven leadership
and administrative capability directly relevant to Bar Council responsibilities.
CORE COMMITMENTS
- Welfare That Works.
- i. The Karnataka Advocates’ Welfare Fund rests on strong statutory foundations, but its
effectiveness depends on timely delivery, procedural clarity, and last-mile access. Adv.
Geetha Raj is committed to reforming the welfare system so that welfare benefits reach
Advocates and their families with certainty, dignity, and urgency.
- ii. She will work to institutionalise time-bound processing of welfare claims, with
clearly defined stages, submission, scrutiny, approval, and disbursal, supported by
transparent timelines and accountability mechanisms. This will replace uncertainty and
delay with predictability and trust.
- iii. To ensure accessible support, Welfare Helpdesks will be established at Bar
Associations across the State, enabling Advocates and their families to receive local
guidance on welfare entitlements, documentation, and record updates without unnecessary
travel or intermediaries.
- iv. A dedicated Family-First Protocol will prioritise and fast-track welfare benefits to
the families of deceased Advocates, providing hand-holding assistance and sensitive
processing during periods of vulnerability. In parallel, “Know Your Welfare Rights”
awareness initiatives will be undertaken so that no advocate or dependent is deprived of
statutory benefits due to procedural or informational gaps.
- v. Through these measures, welfare will function not as a formality, but as a reliable
system of support for Advocates and their families across all stages of professional
life.
- Comprehensive Medical Insurance for Advocates and Their Families.
- i. Access to affordable and reliable healthcare is no longer optional, it is essential
professional security. Adv. Geetha Raj will work toward the introduction of Bar-wide
group medical insurance schemes covering Advocates, their spouses, children, and
dependent parents, ensuring that health crises do not become financial catastrophes for
Advocates’ families.
- ii. Her focus will be on negotiating group Mediclaim arrangements with both public and
private insurers, leveraging pooled risk to secure lower premiums, broader coverage, and
access to cashless treatment across major hospital networks. Coverage will include
hospitalisation, critical illness, maternity benefits, and essential
post-hospitalisation care.
- iii. Recognising the diversity within the Bar, the insurance framework will be designed
with tiered and optional plans, enabling young Advocates, women Advocates, and senior
practitioners to choose coverage aligned with their stage of life and professional
capacity. Continuity of coverage will be a guiding principle, ensuring that Advocates
are not excluded due to illness, maternity, or temporary interruptions in practice.
- iv. Drawing on her professional experience in insurance litigation and advisory work,
Adv. Geetha Raj is committed to ensuring that this initiative is practical, transparent,
and enforceable in real life, with an emphasis on claims honouring and grievance
redressal, not merely policy promises.
- Pension and Post-Practice Security for Advocates (Including Women Advocates)
- i. The assumption that an advocate can or should practise until death is neither humane
nor reflective of present realities. Ill-health, age, caregiving responsibilities, and
changing professional capacities affect Advocates as they do any other profession. A Bar
that speaks for justice must therefore also ensure dignity, continuity, and security for
its own members beyond active practice.
- ii. Adv. Geetha Raj will initiate a structured, transparent, and consultative process to
evolve a Pension and Post-Practice Security Framework for Advocates, rooted in
voluntariness, fairness, and long-term sustainability. This framework will be developed
in consultation with senior Advocates, Bar Associations, actuarial and financial
experts, and relevant government stakeholders, ensuring both professional acceptance and
financial prudence.
- iii. The proposed approach will explore voluntary and choice-based pension contributions
during active years of practice, with flexible contribution tiers aligned to years of
practice and earning capacity. Special safeguards will be incorporated for women
Advocates, particularly those who experience career interruptions due to marriage,
maternity, or caregiving responsibilities, so that such life events do not result in
lifelong insecurity.
- iv. Clear and dignified exit and transition mechanisms will also be examined, including
options such as voluntary dormancy or surrender of Sanad upon retirement and
eligibility-based activation of pension benefits thereafter. The guiding principle of
this initiative is security with dignity, not coercion, ensuring that retirement from
practice does not mean abandonment by the profession.
- Pressuring the State for Statutory Protection :
Medical insurance and pension security for Advocates cannot depend on goodwill, fragmented
schemes, or ad-hoc announcements. They require statutory recognition, sustained policy
backing, and institutional accountability. A profession entrusted with protecting
constitutional rights must itself be protected through law.
Adv. Geetha Raj commits to using the institutional authority and collective voice of the Bar
Council to engage decisively with the State Government for:
- 1. statutory medical insurance support for Advocates and their families,
- 2. structured government participation or subsidies in advocate pension frameworks, and
- 3. formal recognition of Advocates as a professional class entitled to social security
protection.
She will also work in coordination with other State Bar Councils and the Bar Council of India
to build a national advocacy framework for long-term legislative protection of Advocates.
Advocates protect the justice system; the justice system, in turn, must protect Advocates.
- Advocate Protection and Security Framework
Financial security alone is insufficient if Advocates remain vulnerable to physical threats,
professional intimidation, and retaliation for discharging their duties. The independence of
the Bar, and by extension, the administration of justice, depends on the ability of
Advocates to practise without fear.
Adv. Geetha Raj will work toward the establishment of a formal Advocate Protection and
Security Framework, recognising that attacks on Advocates are not private disputes but
assaults on the justice delivery system itself. This framework will institutionalise
coordinated responses to threats, harassment, and violence against Advocates, ensuring that
such incidents are addressed swiftly, seriously, and transparently.
The framework will provide for structured coordination with police and district
administrations, clear response protocols when Advocates are targeted for professional work,
and consistent institutional representation before the government and judiciary. Through
sustained engagement and policy advocacy, Adv. Geetha Raj will reinforce a zero-tolerance
approach to intimidation or violence against Advocates, safeguarding professional dignity
and fearless advocacy.
- Young Advocates First
The strength and future of the legal profession depend on how its youngest members are
trained, supported, and retained. Early-career Advocates require practical skills, ethical
grounding, and economic stability, not symbolic assurances.
Adv. Geetha Raj will prioritise young Advocates by establishing a structured mentorship and
practice-support ecosystem that bridges the gap between legal education and courtroom
realities. A formal Mentorship Network will pair experienced Advocates with juniors to
impart practical knowledge in drafting, procedure, courtroom conduct, and professional
ethics.
Regular Practice-Support Clinics will focus on core areas of daily practice, including family
court strategy, civil trial techniques, tribunal advocacy, and insurance and consumer
litigation. To address long-term sustainability, young Advocates will also be supported
through a Career Stability Toolkit, covering chamber management, ethical client intake, fee
structuring, and reputation building.
By investing deliberately in the first five years of practice, this initiative aims to build
a confident, competent, and ethically grounded generation of Advocates—strengthening the Bar
as a whole.
- Women’s Safety, Respect & Leadership
A Bar that does not protect and empower its women Advocates cannot claim to be just or
progressive. Women lawyers continue to face harassment, intimidation, exclusion from
leadership, and informal segregation into limited practice areas, realities that undermine
professional dignity and equal opportunity.
Adv. Geetha Raj is committed to fostering a court and Bar environment where women Advocates
practise with safety, respect, and confidence. She supports zero tolerance for harassment or
intimidation within court premises or Bar institutions, and will work toward the
establishment of structured support mechanisms for women Advocates facing professional
crises.
An internal rapid-response support system, complemented by peer-support and mentorship
networks, will ensure that women Advocates are not isolated when confronting harassment,
bias, or professional obstruction. To address long-standing under-representation, she will
advocate for meaningful participation of women Advocates in committees and ADR panels,
creating a sustainable leadership pipeline rather than symbolic inclusion.
Through targeted training, mentorship, and institutional support, women Advocates will be
encouraged and enabled to compete across all areas of practice, including criminal,
constitutional, and commercial litigation, based on merit, not stereotypes. This commitment
is aimed at building safer courts, equal opportunity, and a Bar where women’s voices shape
the profession’s future.
- Mediation & ADR For Faster Justice
Justice delayed erodes both dignity and faith in the legal system. As a trained mediator,
Adv. Geetha Raj recognises that effective mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR)
can significantly reduce case backlogs while preserving relationships and professional
dignity.
She will promote mediation-readiness among Advocates, focusing on negotiation skills,
settlement drafting, and early identification of cases suitable for consensual resolution.
Special emphasis will be placed on family disputes, such as custody, maintenance, and
property matters, where timely and enforceable settlements prevent prolonged emotional and
financial strain.
Adv. Geetha Raj will work to strengthen court-annexed mediation systems by improving
coordination, scheduling discipline, and litigant awareness, ensuring that mediation
referrals are meaningful and effective. These efforts align with the Mediation Act, 2023,
which emphasises pre-litigation mediation and expeditious settlement.
By institutionalising ADR capacity within the Bar, her vision is to achieve speedy justice
without compromising advocacy, reduce avoidable litigation, and contribute to easing the
national case backlog.
- Pro Bono With Purpose
Access to justice must extend beyond ability to pay. Building on her long-standing commitment
to pro bono service, Adv. Geetha Raj will work to institutionalise structured, accountable,
and dignified legal aid within the Bar.
A coordinated pro bono engagement framework will match deserving litigants with willing
Advocates through Bar Associations and civil-society partners, ensuring that assistance is
meaningful and outcomes-oriented rather than symbolic. Legal-literacy initiatives will
empower citizens on issues such as domestic violence, senior-citizen rights, insurance
claims, and maintenance.
Periodic One-Day Justice Camps, conducted in collaboration with local Bar Associations, will
provide screening, guidance, and documentation support. Through these measures, pro bono
work will function as a system of justice delivery, ensuring that legal aid reaches the last
person with accountability and dignity.
- Professional Dignity
The dignity of Advocates is inseparable from the dignity of the justice system. Every
advocate is entitled to respect, within courts, before authorities, and within professional
institutions.
Adv. Geetha Raj will work toward the adoption of an Advocates’ Dignity Charter, setting out
clear standards of respectful conduct and institutional remedies for humiliation, unfair
treatment, or professional obstruction. At the same time, she will support strict ethical
discipline within the Bar, with zero tolerance for touting, impersonation, or unethical
solicitation that undermines collective credibility.
Through structured engagement with courts and judicial administration, she will advocate for
respectful court processes, including improved hearing management and professional address
of Advocates. By combining ethical accountability with institutional safeguards, this
commitment seeks to elevate the profession’s standing and protect Advocates from arbitrary
treatment.
- Transparent Bar Administration
Transparency is the foundation of trust in any institution. A Bar Council that governs
Advocates must itself function in a manner that is open, accessible, and accountable.
Adv. Geetha Raj will work to ensure that all Bar Council rules, procedures, and fee
structures, including those relating to enrolment, suspension, welfare benefits, and
disciplinary processes, are clearly published and easily accessible in both Kannada and
English, so that Advocates can comply without intermediaries or informal channels.
Plain-language guidance notes will accompany formal rules, reducing confusion and procedural
dependency.
To minimise unnecessary travel and loss of professional time, she will advocate for
district-level service camps enabling routine administrative updates, such as identity
corrections, welfare nominations, and document submissions, to be completed locally. Regular
and clear communication, including periodic public reporting on welfare disbursals and
grievance-handling outcomes, will be encouraged to ensure institutional accountability.
Through these measures, the Bar Council will function in plain view of its members, restoring
confidence that administrative processes are fair, predictable, and genuinely
service-oriented.
- LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION : From Representation to
Effective Implementation
For decades, Advocates have relied on fragmented safeguards under general criminal law, the
Advocates Act, 1961, and sporadic executive assurances. In practice, these measures have
proved inadequate to address persistent challenges faced by the profession, including
impersonation, violence, intimidation, professional exploitation, and the absence of
structured social security.
Adv. Geetha Raj believes that the role of the Bar Council must evolve from passive
representation to active institutional engagement in statutory implementation and policy
strengthening. Protection of Advocates cannot remain confined to resolutions or episodic
protest; it must be secured through effective operation, monitoring, and reinforcement of
legislative and statutory frameworks.
With her background in legislative drafting, institutional litigation, and sustained
engagement with public authorities, Adv. Geetha Raj will function as a policy and
implementation driver, ensuring that laws intended to protect Advocates are translated into
real, enforceable outcomes on the ground.
a. Karnataka Prohibition of Unauthorised Practice of Law (Fake Advocates) Bill, 2025
: Recognising the serious concerns relating to unauthorised legal practice and
impersonation, the State has initiated legislative action through the Karnataka Prohibition
of Unauthorised Practice of Law (Fake Advocates) Bill, 2025.
Adv. Geetha Raj’s role in relation to this legislation will be focused on implementation,
institutional coordination, and strengthening of enforcement, without presuming or
speculating on legislative content. In furtherance of this objective, she will:
- I. work within Bar Council processes to support and operationalise the statute once
enacted,
- II. coordinate with Bar Associations to identify, document, and channel instances of
unauthorised practice through appropriate institutional mechanisms,
- III. engage with the Law Department, Home Department, and enforcement authorities to
ensure consistent and effective application of the law,
- IV. facilitate interaction with the High Court administration and subordinate judiciary
for practical verification and reporting mechanisms,
- V. participate in consultative processes relating to rules, guidelines, or
administrative directions issued under the statute, and
- VI. advocate for periodic review and strengthening of enforcement measures where
implementation gaps are identified.
Her approach will be to ensure that the legislation operates as a functional safeguard for
genuine Advocates and litigants, rather than remaining a declaratory or symbolic provision.
b. Karnataka Advocates’ Protection from Violence and Social Welfare (Amendment) Bill,
2025
Violence, intimidation, and threats against Advocates undermine not only individual safety
but the independence and effectiveness of the justice delivery system itself. Legislative
attention to this issue is reflected in the Karnataka Advocates’ Protection from Violence
and Social Welfare (Amendment) Bill, 2025.
Adv. Geetha Raj’s engagement with this legislation will centre on ensuring that statutory
protections are implemented uniformly, seriously, and without dilution. In this regard, she
will:
- i. work through Bar Council mechanisms to institutionalise coordination between Bar
Associations, police authorities, and district administrations,
- ii. engage with enforcement agencies to promote uniform response protocols across
districts,
- iii. situate advocate protection firmly within constitutional guarantees of life,
dignity, and fair trial, reinforcing its institutional importance,
- iv. support integration of welfare, medical assistance, insurance, and compensation
measures with advocate-protection mechanisms, and
- v. monitor implementation challenges and advocate for administrative or legislative
refinements wherever required.
Her focus will be to ensure that statutory protection for Advocates is real, responsive, and
credible in practice.
c. CONTINUED LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY ENGAGEMENT FOR Advocates
Adv. Geetha Raj’s commitment to statutory reform is continuous and forward-looking, extending
beyond specific enactments. She will work within the Bar Council framework to support,
strengthen, and advance legislative and policy measures relating to:
- I. Advocates’ Social Security and Pension Frameworks, including structured retirement
security and safeguards for women Advocates and career interruptions.
- II. Advocates’ Medical Insurance and Health-Support Frameworks, with emphasis on group
coverage, emergency assistance, and integration with welfare structures.
- III. Advocates’ Workplace Safety and Court Infrastructure Standards, including safety
norms, essential facilities, and institutional accountability.
- IV. Regulation of Online Legal Services, focusing on verification, prevention of
impersonation and unfair competition, and consumer transparency.
Through sustained institutional engagement, Adv. Geetha Raj aims to ensure that laws and
policies affecting Advocates are implemented effectively, monitored consistently, and
strengthened where necessary, so that statutory protection translates into lived
professional security.
“The true test of legislation is not its passage, but its performance. My commitment is
to ensure that laws meant to protect Advocates actually work, on the ground, in courts,
and in daily professional life.” - Adv. Geetha Raj
IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK
From Commitments to Irreversible Institutional Reform
Purpose and Governing Philosophy
This implementation framework is designed to convert professional commitments into institutional
outcomes that cannot be diluted, delayed, or reversed. The emphasis is not on announcements or
short-term optics, but on embedding reforms into Bar Council processes, resolutions, and
inter-institutional engagements so that momentum continues irrespective of personalities.
Adv. Geetha Raj’s approach is grounded in institutional sequencing: first securing authority, then
locking in process, and finally activating execution through formal mechanisms of the Bar Council,
the judiciary, and the State.
I. Institutionalisation of Advocate Welfare Systems
- i. The first pillar of implementation is the transformation of welfare from an ad-hoc benefit
mechanism into a predictable, rule-governed institutional system.
- ii. Advocate welfare access mechanisms will be formally institutionalised through Bar Council
processes, including:
- 1. establishment of welfare-access facilitation structures at Bar Association levels,
- 2. formal adoption of a standardised welfare claim pathway clearly delineating stages of
submission, scrutiny, approval, and disbursal,
- 3. incorporation of defined accountability and escalation mechanisms to address delays.
- iii. Special emphasis will be placed on welfare benefits to Advocates and their families, with a
dedicated focus on families of deceased Advocates, ensuring priority handling, sensitive
engagement, and continuity of support.
- iv. Through these measures, welfare will cease to be discretionary or intermediary-driven and
will operate as a rights-based, systematised function of the Bar Council.
II. Structured Capacity-Building for Young Advocates
- i. Adv. Geetha Raj’s implementation strategy recognises that professional sustainability begins
with early institutional support, not informal patronage.
- ii. A formally structured mentorship and capacity-building framework will be embedded within Bar
Council functioning, ensuring:
- 1. predictable and periodic skill-development modules,
- 2. direct engagement of experienced practitioners across practice areas,
- 3. continuity in training standards rather than sporadic sessions.
- iii. This framework will be designed to function independently of individual access or chance,
ensuring that young Advocates across districts know where, when, and how professional skills can
be acquired.
- iv. The objective is not episodic training, but the creation of a professional pipeline that
strengthens the Bar across generations.
III. Women Advocates’ Safety, Support & Leadership Integration
- i. Implementation in this domain will move beyond reactive support and symbolic representation.
- ii. A formal Women Advocates’ Support and Response Framework will be embedded institutionally,
providing:
- 1. defined reporting and support pathways,
- 2. structured coordination with Bar Associations and relevant authorities,
- 3. internal mechanisms to address harassment, intimidation, or professional exclusion.
- iii. Simultaneously, representation of women Advocates within committees, ADR panels, and
institutional roles will be systematically integrated, ensuring leadership participation is
structural rather than discretionary.
- iv. This approach ensures that women Advocates are protected, supported, and positioned as
decision-makers within the profession, not merely beneficiaries of welfare.
IV. Health, Insurance & Pension Security-Policy-to-Framework Transition
- i. Rather than announcing schemes prematurely, Adv. Geetha Raj’s implementation model focuses on
framework-building before rollout.
- ii. Structured policy consultations will be institutionalised with:
- 1. insurance providers,
- 2. actuarial experts,
- 3. senior members of the Bar,
- 4. Bar Associations across districts.
- iii. These consultations will culminate in drafted, consultative frameworks for:
- 1. group medical insurance for Advocates and their families,
- 2. pension and post-practice security models with safeguards for women Advocates and
career interruptions.
- iv. By anchoring these initiatives in formal policy models and Bar Council deliberation, health
and retirement security will progress as sustainable institutional reforms, not fragmented or
goodwill-based schemes.
V. Legislative Advocacy as an Institutional Function
- i. A defining feature of this implementation plan is the conversion of legislative advocacy into
a formal Bar Council function, not an external campaign.
- ii. Through formal resolutions and documented institutional positions, the Bar Council will:
- 1. endorse and own key legislative proposals, including laws addressing fake Advocates,
advocate protection from violence, and professional social security,
- 2. initiate structured engagement with State departments through official channels,
- 3. place the Bar Council on record as a policy stakeholder, not merely a pressure group.
- iii. This approach ensures that legislative reform begins as a Bar Council mandate, making
disengagement or delay by the State institutionally and politically costly.
VI. Mediation & ADR Capacity Integration
- i. Implementation in mediation and ADR will focus on professional readiness, not dilution of
advocacy.
- ii. Adv. Geetha Raj will ensure that mediation-readiness becomes part of professional
capacity-building, equipping Advocates with:
- 1. negotiation competence,
- 2. settlement drafting skills,
- 3. informed case selection for consensual resolution.
- iii. This integration aligns with evolving statutory frameworks while protecting the advocate’s
central role in dispute resolution. Mediation is positioned not as an alternative to advocacy,
but as an extension of professional skill and client service.
VII. Transparent and Accountable Bar Administration
- i. Transparency reforms will be embedded through:
- 1. formal publication of rules, procedures, and fee structures in accessible formats and
languages,
- 2. decentralisation of routine administrative services through structured district-level
engagement,
- 3. institutional reporting practices that allow members to assess performance without
informal channels.
- ii. The objective is to make Bar Council administration predictable, visible, and
service-oriented, reducing dependency, discretion, and opacity.
OUTCOME OF THE IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK
- i. Through this phased, institutional approach:
- 1. welfare access becomes reliable and family-inclusive,
- 2. professional training becomes structured and continuous,
- 3. women Advocates gain safety and leadership integration,
- 4. insurance and pension security move from aspiration to policy frameworks,
- 5. legislative reform becomes an institutional inevitability,
- 6. mediation and ADR strengthen, rather than weaken, advocacy,
- 7. and Bar Council administration functions in plain view of its members.
WHY THIS FRAMEWORK CANNOT BE REPLICATED CASUALLY
- i. This implementation model:
- a. requires legislative drafting literacy,
- b. demands institutional negotiation experience,
- c. relies on cross-domain expertise (insurance, public law, mediation), and operates
through process-locking rather than promises.
- ii. It is not a manifesto designed for applause. It is a governing architecture designed for
delivery.
“My commitment is not to complete
terms, but to complete reforms, by embedding them into institutions so deeply that they outlast
individuals.” - Adv. Geetha Raj
CONCLUSION
This manifesto represents not a list of promises, but a roadmap for institutional reform. Every
commitment is grounded in practical experience, professional expertise, and a deep understanding of
the challenges faced by Advocates across Karnataka.
Adv. Geetha Raj’s vision is simple: A Bar Council that protects, empowers, and serves its members
with dignity, transparency, and accountability.
“The strength of a profession is measured by how it protects its most vulnerable and empowers its
most ambitious. I ask for your vote to build a Bar Council that works for every advocate, with
dignity and without delay.”
“Welfare with Dignity • Justice with Speed • Practice with Protection”
Vote for Adv. Geetha Raj
Karnataka State Bar Council Elections 2026
📞 +91 96633 81828
✉️ advgeetharaj@gmail.com
*This manifesto is published for informational and campaign purposes only, in accordance with
Bar Council of India norms.*
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