Allahabad High Court Directs UP Govt To Consider Framing Insurance Scheme For State Law Officers

A bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Om Prakash Shukla has asked the UP Government to file an affidavit in the matter within four weeks.

The Court has also issued notices to the Oudh Bar Association through its General Secretary, along with the UP-Bar Council through its Secretary. Principal Secretary, Law/Legal Remembrancer, UP.

The Court took note of the issue while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea filed by a practising HC advocate (Hari Prasad Gupta) concerning a State Law Officer (Neeraj Chaurasia) who met with a serious road accident and is presently admitted in critical condition in the neuro-surgery department of Max Super Specialty Hospital.

Seeking medical aid for the injured advocate, the PIL plea stated that the said law officer is not in a position to meet the expenses incurred for his treatment and hence needs the necessary financial benefit provided to him.

Hearing the PIL plea, the Court interacted with Advocate RD Shahi, newly elected President of the Oudh Bar Association, who informed the Court that the maximum financial assistance which can be provided in the circumstances is Rs.1,00,000/-, which has been immediately disbursed to the family members for meeting the medical expenses.

He further submitted that certain rules govern this disbursement, and it is not within his power to exceed it.

However, when the bench suggested framing an insurance scheme for such cases, he submitted that the Executive Council meeting would consider the insurance issue for lawyers.

As regards the State Government, Additional Advocate General Kuldeep Pati Tripathi informed the bench that while there is no such scheme of insurance or group insurance for State lawyers, a request has been made orally to the Chief Minister's Secretariat for considering the release of funds under the Chief Minister's discretionary quota.

Asking the State Government to consider the same and provide financial assistance for Chaurasia's treatment as soon as possible, the Court also requested the members of the Bar, especially the senior members, to kindly do what is necessary to help Shri Chaurasia or his family members as far as possible.

Further noting that it is an important issue relating to the lawyers in general and State Law Officers in particular, the Court decided to proceed with this matter in the larger interest.

Consequently, the Court posted the matter for August 2024 and asked the state government to file an affidavit in the matter.