City Bureau
Congress Leaders Pledge Greater Protection, Welfare and Political Representation for Telangana Advocates
TPCC Legal Cell meeting focuses on health insurance, government appointments and professional security.
HYDERABAD | October 24, 2026
The Congress leadership in Telangana on Saturday pledged to strengthen the welfare and professional security of advocates, promising to pursue greater representation for legal professionals in government appointments, improved health insurance coverage and stronger institutional safeguards.
The assurances came at the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Legal Cell State Executive Meeting, held at Indira Bhavan, Gandhi Bhavan, Hyderabad, under the chairmanship of Ponnam Ashok Goud, Chairman of the TPCC Legal Cell.
The meeting brought together senior Congress leaders, ministers, legislators and advocates from across Telangana to deliberate on long-pending concerns of the legal fraternity, including professional protection, welfare schemes, political representation and organisational strengthening.
Lawyers Are Guardians of Democracy: Madhu Goud Yashki
Madhu Goud Yashki, National Chairman of the All India Professionals’ Congress (AIPC) and former Member of Parliament, underscored the legal fraternity’s crucial role in defending constitutional values, protecting civil liberties and ensuring access to justice.
Recalling the contribution of advocates to the Telangana statehood movement, Yashki said their responsibilities extended far beyond courtrooms to safeguarding democratic institutions and standing up for citizens’ rights.
Drawing upon his own experience as an advocate, he emphasised that legal professionals must be given a greater role in public policy, governance and institutional decision-making.
He assured the gathering that the AIPC would extend its cooperation to the TPCC Legal Cell in addressing advocates’ concerns. He also expressed his willingness to coordinate with senior Congress leader and eminent advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi at the national level and Ponnam Ashok Goud at the state level to advance professional welfare, legal awareness and constitutional protection.
His intervention highlighted the need to connect the legal fraternity with broader policy initiatives and expand legal assistance to vulnerable communities.
Ministers Back Welfare Measures and Government Legal Appointments
Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu, himself a former practising advocate, described the legal profession as one that commands lifelong dignity and respect.
He said advocates who had contributed to the Congress organisation deserved recognition and suitable opportunities in government-related legal assignments, subject to eligibility and institutional requirements.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar assured the gathering that proposals concerning government legal appointments, nominated positions, health insurance and advocates’ family welfare would be brought to the attention of the government.
He also referred to the Telangana Advocates Protection Act, 2026, emphasising the importance of legal safeguards against intimidation, violence and interference in professional duties.
Labour Minister Gaddam Vivek Venkataswamy observed that advocates played an important role in understanding social problems, interpreting public policy and strengthening governance. He assured the legal fraternity that its welfare concerns would receive due attention.
Congress Seeks Wider Role for Legal Professionals
TPCC President B. Mahesh Kumar Goud called upon advocates to participate more actively in politics and public service, describing the legal profession as an important foundation for leadership.
Referring to Minister Ponnam Prabhakar’s political journey, he said professional commitment, organisational discipline and sustained public engagement could open avenues for greater responsibilities.
Sama Ram Mohan Reddy, Congress MLC candidate and former TPCC Legal Cell Vice-Chairman, recalled his transition from legal practice to political activity.
Having enrolled as an advocate in 2016, he said his association with the Legal Cell and the support of fellow advocates had been instrumental in shaping his public career.
Legal Cell Plans Grassroots Expansion
Kota Neelima, State In-Charge of the TPCC Legal Cell, stressed the need to expand the organisation’s activities to district, mandal and village levels through regular meetings, closer coordination and legal awareness programmes
Ashok Goud Seeks Chief Minister’s Intervention
Presiding over the meeting, TPCC Legal Cell Chairman Ponnam Ashok Goud reiterated his commitment to protecting advocates’ rights and ensuring that their professional and welfare concerns reached the highest levels of government.
He announced plans to seek a special meeting with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to discuss pending demands, including welfare assistance, health insurance, government legal appointments and professional security.
Ashok Goud said the Legal Cell would pursue a coordinated action plan to strengthen the organisation across Telangana while ensuring greater recognition for advocates who had contributed to the party and the legal profession.
Senior leaders appreciated his efforts to bring advocates from different districts onto a common platform and strengthen the Legal Cell’s organisational network.
The meeting was attended by AICC, Tpcc minsters , and Mla’s Shashank Pasupuleti, State Coordinator of the TPCC Legal Cell, State Vice-Chairmen Unnam Subbarao and Deva, State General Secretary Momin Roshan Zameer, Kishan Raj Chauhan, district presidents, senior advocates and other state executive members.
Participants emphasised the need to strengthen legal assistance for disadvantaged communities, promote constitutional literacy and build an effective statewide network capable of addressing advocates’ grievances.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to placing advocates’ welfare and professional protection higher on the government’s agenda. The immediate test, however, will be whether the assurances translate into concrete appointments, improved welfare benefits and effective institutional safeguards for Telangana’s legal fraternity.
