https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Akhil_Bharatiya_Adhivakta_ParishadAkhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad - Revision history2026-08-01T03:05:48ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Akhil_Bharatiya_Adhivakta_Parishad&diff=468587&oldid=prevJanandh at 06:36, 28 March 20262026-03-28T06:36:35Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|RSS-affiliated lawyers' association}}<br />
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{{Infobox organization<br />
| name = Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad<br />
| image = The 17th national convention of All India Advocate Council will be held from Dec 26 to 28 at Nakoda in Balotra.jpg<br />
| size = <br />
| alt = All India Lawyers' Council<br />
| caption = All India Lawyers' Council<br />
| abbreviation = ABAP<br />
| formation = 7 September 1992<br />
| founder = [[Dattopant Thengadi]]<br />
| type = [[Umbrella organisation]]<br />
| status = Active<br />
| purpose = Legal and social activism<br />
| headquarters = [[New Delhi]], India<br />
| region_served = [[India]]<br />
| website = {{URL|http://www.adhivaktaparishad.com/}}<br />
| parent_organisation = [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]]<br />
| affiliation = [[Sangh Parivar]]<br />
}}<br />
{{Bharatiya Janata Party sidebar}}<br />
'''Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad''' ('''ABAP''', often translated as the '''''All India Lawyers' Council''''') is a national organisation of lawyers in India. It has been described by scholars and media sources as affiliated with the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organisation, and is often referred to as the RSS's legal wing or legal front.<br />
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According to the organisation, ABAP advocates reforms in the [[Judiciary of India|Indian judicial system]] and promotes legal perspectives rooted in Indian cultural, civilisational, and philosophical traditions.<br />
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==Overview==<br />
The Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad (ABAP) was founded in September 1992 by [[Dattopant Thengadi]], a social activist and trade unionist associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Thengadi was also the founder of several other RSS-affiliated organisations, including the [[Swadeshi Jagran Manch|Swadeshi Jagaran Manch]], [[Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh]], and [[Bharatiya Kisan Sangh]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=About – adhivaktaparishad |url=https://adhivaktaparishad.com/about/ |access-date=2026-03-04 |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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According to the organisation, the ABAP seeks to develop an "Indo-centric legal system" rooted in Indian traditions and philosophical thought. Its stated objectives include promoting social justice, safeguarding human rights and narrowing the gap between the legal system and the general public. The organisation also claims to contribute to legal and policy discourse through research, publications and the submission of legal memoranda.<ref name=":1"/><br />
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The ABAP has, however, faced criticism from scholars and media commentators for its close association with the RSS. It has been described as a legal front or legal wing of the [[Hindu Nationalist Organisation|Hindu nationalist organisation]] rather than an independent professional body. Media reports have further suggested that the organisation supports litigation initiatives and legal research aligned with the ideological objectives of the RSS.<ref>{{cite web|title=The RSS legal front’s increasing hold over the judicial system|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/law/adhivakta-parishad-rss-hold-judicial-system|access-date=2026-03-04|website=caravanmagazine.in|language=en}}</ref><br />
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== Activities ==<br />
The ABAP operates through its branches in all [[States and union territories of India|Indian states]] and union territories connected via local, district, and state-level networks of lawyers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nayapravah – Adhivakta Parishad |url=https://adhivaktaparishad.com/about/ |access-date=2025-05-06}}</ref> The ABAP organises legal awareness programs, professional development seminars and national conferences for advocates and law students across the country.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AKHIL BHARATIYA ADHIVAKTA PARISHAD |url=https://adhivaktaparishad.org/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428094955/https://www.adhivaktaparishad.org/ |archive-date=28 April 2025 |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad |language=en-US}}</ref> It also advocates for the use of Indian languages in the legal system,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Meghna |title=ABAP Initiates Signature Campaign About the Need to Make Official Documents of Schedule VIII of the Indian Constitution Available in all Languages |url=https://lawstreet.co/legal-insiders/abap-indian-constitution |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Lawstreet.co |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-09-19 |title=HC judge advocates use of Hindi in courts |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/high-court-judge-advocates-use-of-hindi-in-legal-proceedings/articleshow/113499232.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-10-23 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> the “Indianisation” of the judiciary,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Speech on Decolonisation of the Indian Legal System to be delivered at the 16th National Council Meeting of the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad |url=https://images.assettype.com/barandbench/2021-12/cbd55537-bdd6-4798-b7dc-e9ab19086d51/Lecture_of_Justice_S_Abdul_Nazeer.pdf}}</ref> transparency in judicial appointments <ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhattar |first=Ruchi |date=2025-04-15 |title=RSS-affiliated lawyers' body calls for transparency in judicial appointments, discusses NJAC |url=https://theprint.in/judiciary/rss-affiliated-lawyers-body-calls-for-transparency-in-judicial-appointments-discusses-njac/2590545/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> and reforms to make the justice system "more responsive to the needs of the down-trodden and the have-nots."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=About – Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad |url=https://adhivaktaparishad.com/about/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |language=en-US}}</ref> <br />
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=== Nyaya Kendra ===<br />
The Nyaya Kendras are legal aid centres established by ABAP to make justice accessible to economically and socially disadvantaged communities.<ref name=":0" /><br />
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=== Legal Awareness Camps ===<br />
ABAP conducts Legal Awareness Camps to educate citizens about their rights and responsibilities.<ref name=":0" /><br />
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=== Educational Initiatives ===<br />
ABAP organises seminars, symposiums and workshops at the national, state, district and court levels. Court units hold periodic study circles under the guidance of senior advocates to discuss legal developments, new bills and amendments.<ref name=":0" /><br />
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=== Public Interest Litigation ===<br />
ABAP has supported [[Public interest litigation in India|public interest litigations]] on behalf of marginalised groups, including [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|scheduled castes and tribes]], farmers, informal workers and women. These cases are often filed by local activists and organisations. They are then represented and guided by advocates associated with ABAP.<ref name=":0" /><br />
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=== Study and Research Groups ===<br />
ABAP also publishes a quarterly bilingual magazine, ''Nyaya Pravah''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nyaya Pravah – Adhivakta Parishad |url=https://adhivaktaparishad.com/nyayapravah/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |language=en-US}}</ref><br />
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=== National Conventions ===<br />
The ABAP has organised fifteen national conferences to date.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad |url=https://adhivaktaparishad.com/ |access-date=2025-01-10 |language=en-US}}</ref> The fourteenth conference in 2015 was attended by the then-[[Minister of Law and Justice (India)|Minister of Law and Justice]], [[Sadananda Gowda]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Speech of Hon’ble Minister of Law and Justice at the 14th National Conference of Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad |url=https://lawmin.gov.in/sites/default/files/2015-12-27%20-%20CON%20OF%20AKHIL%20BHARTIYA%20ADHIVAKTA%20PARISHAD.pdf |website=Law Ministry of India |access-date=2025-01-10}}</ref><br />
== Prominent members ==<br />
* [[N. Santosh Hegde]], former judge of the [[Supreme Court of India]] and former [[Lokayukta]] of Karnataka.<ref name="Hegde2">{{Cite news |date=11 September 2011 |title=Santosh Hegde headed lawyers' wing of RSS |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/santosh-hegde-headed-lawyers-wing-of-rss/article2443665.ece |access-date=2011-09-11 |newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref><br />
* [[Adarsh Kumar Goel]], Justice of the Supreme Court of India (appointed in 2014) and former General Secretary of the Adhivakta Parishad.<ref name="Outlook3">{{cite news |title=The Tree, The Branches |newspaper=Outlook |date=27 April 1998 |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/printarticle.aspx?205426 |access-date=2014-10-12}}</ref><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{reflist|30em}}<br />
{{Sangh Parivar}}<br />
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[[Category:Sangh Parivar]]<br />
[[Category:Political organisations based in India]]<br />
[[Category:1992 establishments in India]]<br />
[[Category:Far-right politics in India]]<br />
[[Category:Hinduism-related controversies]]</div>Janandh