Cannot Be Blind To Junior Lawyers' Agony: Kerala HC Slams Bar Council For Delay In Implementing GO Mandating Stipend

The Kerala High Court on Thursday has expressed dissatisfaction with its State Bar Council for not implementing the Government's Order issued in 2018 directing to pay a stipend of Rs 5,000 each to junior lawyers.

Justice PV Kunhikrishnan observed:

"The Court cannot pretend that it does not see the agony of junior lawyers."

The Bar Council explained that the delay in implementing the Government Order was due to the ongoing pandemic. However, the Bench noted that the Bar Council's explanation was unsatisfactory and that it was the junior lawyers who were suffering because of the Covid-19 crisis.

The Court added that there was no impediment to the Bar Council meeting and making a decision online. It also warned that Bar Council members who ignore junior lawyers were not entitled to remain in office.

The observation came in a petition filed by Advocate Dheeraj Ravi seeking assistance for lawyers suffering from the Covid-19 crisis. Advocate Manu Ramachandran appeared for the petitioner in the matter. 

The Court had earlier came down heavily upon the State Bar Council for the grave delay in implementation of the 2018 Government order whereby sanction was accorded to pay a monthly stipend of Rs.5000/- to the junior lawyers.

Vide order dated March 9, 2018, the Kerala Government had sanctioned a monthly stipend of Rs.5000/- for junior lawyers of a specified category, payable out of the Welfare Fund created under Kerala Advocate's Welfare Fund Act, 1980.

The matter will be taken up again on 25th October. 

Case Title: Advocate Dheeraj Ravi & Ors. v. State of Kerala & Ors