Jharkhand HC Seeks Response On Steps Taken By State Govt. & Bar Councils To Aid Legal Fraternity In Need

The Jharkhand High Court On Wednesday took up the common cause pertaining to grant of financial aid to Advocates & Advocate Clerks across Courts in light of losses suffered during the nationwide lockdown in the state and sought the State Government as well as Bar Councils' response regarding steps taken in this regard. 

A bench of Justices Ravi Ranjan & Sujit Narayan Prasad directed the State of Jharkhand to put forth steps taken in terms of an order wherein the Bench had sought response vis-à-vis formulation of a Legislation for the benefits of Advocates Clerks of different Courts of State.

Additionally, the State Bar Council as well as the Bar Council of India as well as the Advocates Welfare Fund Trust Committee were also directed to file their responses and come up with a statement in terms of steps taken for welfare of advocates.

The Court noted that as the State Bar Council had already framed a scheme, steps in terms of the scheme taken were required to come on record.

"Since the State Bar Council has already framed a scheme known as" Special Welfare Scheme, 2020" which has come into existence with effect from 06.04.2020, a copy of which is appended with WP (PIL) No. 1303 of 2020 as Annexure 8, let the State Bar Council also file its response as to what step it has taken to provide assistance to the needy Advocates and what is the position of the fund available to the State Bar Council" the orders reads.

Further, the Court directed that the State Government must not exclude any such needy Advocates or Advocate Clers who are not in a position to maintain themselves due to financial constraints and losses suffered in view of the lockdown.

In related news, the Allahabad High Court last week also took suo moto cognizance of the issue of financially weak Advocates and registered Advocate Clerks, who are now at the verge of starvation due to loss of court work in face of the lockdown.

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