Thousands of lawyers in India's capital staged a protest on Monday against the recent changes in criminal legislation by abstaining from work and boycotting court hearings, amid growing opposition to these modifications. The new laws, which came into effect on July 1, have expanded police powers to detain individuals before trial and mandated judges to provide written verdicts within 45 days after the trial concludes. The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has supported these changes, which also include the death penalty for gang rape of women under 18, arguing that they are 'victim-centric', modernize the system, and 'end the endless wait for justice'. However, legal bodies, opposition parties, and activists have urged a halt to these reforms, arguing that they grant excessive authority to the police and add pressure to an already strained justice system as lawyers grapple with and contest the new legal provisions. Lawyers from seven district courts in and around New Delhi participated in the strike on Monday, according to N.C. Sharma, the spokesperson for the All District Courts Bar Associations of Delhi. 'Lawyers are protesting because the changes will cause confusion,' he noted. The Patiala House district court in New Delhi was notably quieter than usual on Monday when visited by Reuters. A court official, who requested anonymity, reported that many cases were not argued and lawyers requested postponements. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India and the High Court continued to function normally.