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COVID- Come Up With Clear Stand Qua Release Of Amount As Financial Aid To The Lawyers: Jammu & Kashmir High Court To Govt
Sparsh Upadhyay
2 Jun 2021 9:22 AM IST
The Jammu & Kashmir High Court on Tuesday (June 1) directed the Union Territory Administration to come up with a clear stand on the release of financial aid to the lawyers affected by the ongoing corona lockdown.The bench comprising Justice Ali Mohammad Magray was hearing the plea of one M. Abubakar Pandit who has prayed that UT of J&K be directed to grant immediate financial...
The Jammu & Kashmir High Court on Tuesday (June 1) directed the Union Territory Administration to come up with a clear stand on the release of financial aid to the lawyers affected by the ongoing corona lockdown.
The bench comprising Justice Ali Mohammad Magray was hearing the plea of one M. Abubakar Pandit who has prayed that UT of J&K be directed to grant immediate financial assistance to the tune of Rs 25,000/- to the advocates who are in actual practice before the High Court and District Court within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The plea also seeks a direction for the formulation of a medical and life insurance policy for the welfare of the advocates and their family members practicing before the High Court and District Court(s) within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Court's order
The Court noted that the response had not been filed by the Respondents and thus directed the Government to file its response by the next date of hearing and said:
"The Government shall come up with clear stand qua release of amount as financial aid to the lawyers on the patterns of already issued guidelines in the previous financial year, when a similar type of lockdown/ restrictions were imposed on account of Covid-19 Pandemic."
The plea before the Court
The plea avers that the present crisis due to Covid-19 and closure of courts has caused serious financial problems for many advocates during the period of lockdown including the petitioner.
The plea also states that most of the lawyers are not able to feed their family and are at the stage where they can say a final goodbye to the noble profession forever.
Importantly, the plea states,
"Since the pandemic has started many advocates became COVID Positive and some were also hospitalized and to bear the medical expenses they approached to various members of the Bar for financial aid whereas there was no assistance by the Respondents."
The plea also stresses that the Advocates are called the officers of the court and that the Courts should come forward for the welfare of the Advocates and their family members and further, a guideline be prepared at an earliest for providing the Insurance Policy in favor of the advocates including their family members.
Case title - M. Abubakar Pandit v. Union Territory of JK & Ors.
Read Order
