Allahabad HC Seeks UP Bar Council's Reply On Formulating An Insurance Scheme For All Practising Lawyers Of State

A bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Om Prakash Shukla proposed that local bar associations in Uttar Pradesh could implement an insurance policy for lawyers with guidance from the Bar Council of UP so that regular practising lawyers across the state can receive insurance or medi-claim benefits based on terms agreed upon between the Bar Council, local Bar Associations, and the insurance company.

“We expect the Bar Council of U.P. to come up with some constructive and positive scheme in this regard. This will also cover the Government Advocates and, therefore, the burden would not be transferred to the government in this regard,” the Court observed in its order while asking the Counsel appearing for Bar Council of U.P. to take instructions in the matter.

The Court also suggested that the services of the lawyers who appear for the Insurance Company could be utilized in this regard.

The division bench passed this order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea filed by party-in-person Alok Kumar Mishra seeking insurance benefits for lawyers of the state.

The PIL plea has been connected with another plea filed by a practising HC advocate (Hari Prasad Gupta) concerning a State Law Officer (Neeraj Chaurasia) who met with a severe road accident recently.

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

Hearing the matter in June, the Court issued notices to the Oudh Bar Association through its General Secretary and the UP-Bar Council through its Secretary. Principal Secretary, Law/Legal Remembrancer, UP.

On Tuesday, Advocate Manoj Dwivedi, Secretary of the Oudh Bar Association, apprised the bench that the executive was considering group insurance for the association's members and that the bench would be informed about the decision taken in this regard.

However, the Counsel for the petitioner submitted that this is an issue about the lawyers practising in the State of U.P. throughout the State and, therefore, the Bar Council of UP should take a call on the matter.

To this, the Court asked the Bar Council to respond in the matter before the next date (October 15).