Allahabad HC Issues Notices On Contempt Plea Against UP Advocates Welfare Funds Trustees Committee For Failure To Disburse Funds To Needy Advocates [Read Order]

The Single Bench of Justice Piyush Agrawal has given ten days' time to the Respondents to file their reply in the matter.

The Allahabad High Court had issued a slew of directions in April this year to the UP Advocates Welfare Funds Trustees Committee to devise a scheme and provide financial assistance to needy Advocates, who are deleteriously affected due to COVID-19 lockdown.

However, on account of Committee's inability to do so on account o lack of funds, the High Court directed it to borrow fund as per the statutory mandate under Section 5 of the Uttar Pradesh Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 1974, to grant aid to the needy advocate in times of natural calamity. Also, the court directed the State Government to become a Guarantor if the Welfare Trustee Committee applies for loan.

Allahabad HC Directs UP Advocates' Welfare Fund Trustees Committee To Take Loan If It Doesn't Have Enough Funds To Support Lawyers

The Petitioner, Advocate Suresh Chandra Pandey, has approached the High Court stating that nothing has been done so far by the Welfare Trustee Committee to comply with the above direction or to ensure that financial aid could be disbursed for the welfare of the needy advocates.

He has urged the Court to issue show cause notice to the opposite party calling upon them to show cause as to why they should not be punished for disobedience of the abovementioned order dated May 14, 2020.

He has also requested the Court to further direct them to formulate the necessary scheme to provide Assistance to the Needy Advocates and Registered Advocate Clerks in the present natural calamity caused by COVID-19 by borrowing loan as per the provisions of Section 5 of the U.P. Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 1974.

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