UT Administration Of J&K Grants Rs. 1 Crore Towards Welfare Of Needy Advocates

Many High Courts and Bar Councils have been taking steps to aid the needy lawyers, whose survival has come under threat due to loss of court work. However, the Government of UT of J&K has become the first government in India to take steps in this direction.

Announcing the decision of the Government to provide financial grant to needy lawyers, the Department of Information and Public Relations of J&K on Wednesday took to twitter, intimating that the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, GC Murmu, has handed over a cheque of Rs 1 crore to the Registrar General of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

On a related note, the Uttar Pradesh Government also maintains a dedicated fund for the welfare of Advocates. However, in the absence of a disbursement scheme, the state has been unable to release any funds. Taking note of the same, the Allahabad High Court has directed the Trustees' Committee to convene a meeting at the earliest so as to devise a scheme to provide assistance to the needy Advocates, who are deleteriously affected due to COVID-19 lockdown.

Recently, in the context to providing financial assistance to needy Advocates during lockdown, the Rajasthan High Court held that providing compensation or any financial assistance to any particular segment of the Society is a "matter of policy" which is to be considered by the State Government after taking into account all relevant aspects subject to resources available with them.

In Madhya Pradesh, the State Government has sought time to respond on a PIL filed by an association of lawyers, seeking financial assistance for Advocates in need, their staff and other employees of the Bar Association.

Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court of Kerala has asked the Central Government if it is possible to grant relaxations for advocates from the lockdown.