Judicial Shield: Kerala High Court's Landmark Defense of Advocate-Client Privilege Against Investigative Overreach
Judicial Shield: Kerala High Court's Landmark Defense of Advocate-Client Privilege Against Investigative Overreach By Abhishek Jat,Advocate In a precedent-setting ruling that resonates throughout India's legal landscape, the Kerala High Court has delivered a comprehensive judgment safeguarding the constitutional and statutory protections afforded to advocates. The March 27, 2025 decision in W.P.(Crl.) No. 363 OF 2025 addresses a troubling instance where investigative authorities attempted to penetrate the sacred domain of advocate-client communications, raising profound questions about the boundaries of police powers and the independence of the legal profession. The Unprecedented Summons: Factual Matrix The controversy originated when the petitioner, a practicing advocate with over two decades of experience, found himself served with a notice under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The notice demanded his appearance before police auth...