Around 1 lakh lawyers across the state will observe a half-day strike on Friday against the proposed Advocates (Amendment) Bill 2017 that, among other changes, bars advocates from holding agitations and brings them under the ambit of consumer forums.

Lawyers from Patna High Court, Patna civil court, district courts and all the tribunals will also burn copies of the proposed bill. The Bar Council of India has given the strike call against the Law Commission of India's suggestions to the central government for a drastic change in the Advocates Act 1961. Senior lawyers have called the proposed changes draconian.

According to the proposed changes, any judge or judicial officer can cancel the licence of an advocate on charges of negligence and indiscipline. It also says that half of the members of Bar councils are to be nominated by the Union government and the respective state governments.

Senior high court advocate Y.C. Verma said: "The Law Commission has no authority to recommend changes to the Advocates Act. The proposed changes are draconian, undemocratic and anti-lawyer."

Lawyers have decided if the recommendations of the Law Commission are not rejected, a rally will be organised in Delhi on May 2. If their demands are not accepted by then, the Bar Council of India will organise massive rallies and "jail bharo" campaign.