Financial Assistance Worth Rs 4 Crores To Be Released For Advocates, State Govt Tells Karnataka High Court

Advocate V Sreenidhi appearing for the government said :

"In principle, approval has been granted for releasing an amount of Rs 4 crore for members of the bar, once the cabinet of ministers is formed the approval will be granted."

It was also informed that the procedure in regards to opening of bank account for investing the amount of Rs 10 lakhs for the benefit of Registered Advocates Clerks will also be done.

On previous hearing, the court was informed that a Committee as contemplated under sub-section (1) of Section 4 of the Karnataka Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 1983 (for short the Act of 1983) has been constituted which will manage the Karnataka Registered Clerks' Welfare Fund established under section 27 of the said Act of 1983. The Committee will have to open an account of the fund in any scheduled bank for investing the money received by the fund.

Last year, the State Government had released an amount of Rs 5 crore for the benefit of Advocates and Advocates Clerks who were in distress and needed financial assistance due to closure of courts, during the Covid-19 lockdown. Out of the amount, Rs 10 lakh was earmarked for the benefit of Advocate's Clerks.

The Advocate's Clerk Association through Advocate Murthy D Naik had approached the court seeking direction to the state government to release a sum of Rs 10,000 for each member during the period of closure of court till commencement of normal functioning of courts.

The matter will be next heard on August 24.