Court Awards Bar Council RM59,499 Over Constitutional Rights Breach

The Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of the Bar Council, awarding RM59,499 in damages over a constitutional rights infringement stemming from the 'Walk for Judicial Independence' procession held in 2022.

The compensation represents a partial success for the Bar Council's appeal, with the court finding that certain constitutional protections had been breached in connection with the gathering.

The 2022 march was organised to advocate for the independence of the judiciary and drew participation from legal professionals across the country. The incident subsequently became the subject of legal proceedings initiated by the Bar Council.

The award underscores judicial recognition of constitutional protections surrounding public assembly and advocacy activities. The decision is expected to have implications for future discussions on the scope of constitutional safeguards for organised civil society activities in Malaysia.

The Bar Council has not issued immediate comment on the court's decision.