A lawyer’s duty to defend a client extends to ensuring every person receives a fair trial, regardless of perceived guilt, as mandated by the Advocates Act, 1961 and reinforced under Rules 14 and 22 of the Bar Council of India Rules. Ethical advocacy demands zealous defense within legal boundaries—lawyers must challenge the prosecution’s case, protect constitutional rights, and test the strength of evidence without deception or fabrication. The ethical line is crossed when an advocate knowingly misleads the court, suppresses evidence, or participates in unlawful tactics. As noted in cases such as Zahira Sheikh v. State of Gujarat and R.K. Anand v. Registrar, Delhi High Court, the advocate’s role is to uphold justice rather than obstruct it. The profession’s integrity lies in balancing loyalty to the client with an unwavering duty to the court and the rule of law.
