PIL In Allahabad HC Seeks Framing Of Mediclaim Policy For Advocates Registered With State Bar Council

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea has been filed in the Allahabad High Court, urging the court to direct the framing of a comprehensive mediclaim/healthcare policy specifically for advocates registered with the State Bar Council.

The petition, moved by petitioner-in-person Alok Kumar Mishra highlights the necessity of providing adequate healthcare benefits to legal professionals, who often face significant health risks and financial burdens due to the lack of medical insurance coverage. 

"...the Advocates are essential part of administration of justice and without assistance of Advocates the functioning of judicial system is not possible despite that the Advocates registered with Bar Council, U.P. are not getting any benefit like mediclaim policy," the PIL plea submits.

The PIL plea also argues that several Advocates met with accidents and other ailments, but they could not get any assistance from the Government except some monetary assistance from the concerned Bar Associations.

The plea specifically prays the court to direct the respondents, including the Union of India, UP State Bar Council, and Bar Council of India, to frame a mechanism/policy for providing mediclaim Policy or Health Card or Health Security to the practising Advocates registered with the Bar Council of U.P. in Hon'ble High Court at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench and in different districts, revenue courts etc.

The PIL plea submits that in the state of Madhya Pradesh, a scheme called Mukhyamantri Adhivakta Kalyan Scheme, 2012, is operational and provides certain benefits to Advocates. In Delhi, the Chief Minister Advocates Welfare Scheme in Delhi is operational and provides medical and other benefits to Advocates registered with the Bar Council of Delhi. 

It also cites the availability of such schemes for the advocates practising in the States of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. However, it adds that no such scheme is available for the advocate registered with UP State Bar Council, which is not in the benefit of the larger interest of the advocates.

In related news, the Allahabad High Court recently directed the state government to consider framing an insurance scheme for the lawyers appearing for the State Government throughout the State of UP, including before the High Court.

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