Govt refusal to allot annual funds for Advocate Welfare prompts BCI to call for further deliberations in March

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has informed that a joint meeting comprising of representatives from all State Bar Councils and Bar Associations will likely be convened on March 2, 2019. The meeting is being called in furtherance of implementing recently issued demands for the welfare of advocates..A press release to this effect was issued on Tuesday following the conduct of rallies and demonstrations by lawyers across the country. In Delhi, members of the Delhi Bar and BCI representatives staged the demonstration at Jantar Mantar..The demonstration had been carried out as part of recent demands for the implementation of welfare measures for advocates, including a demand for an annual budgetary fund allocation for advocate welfare..Whereas a representation addressed to the Government last month had called for the allocation of Rs 50, 000 crores annually for the purpose, a later press release made earlier this month informed that the corpus amount sought for was reduced to Rs 5, 000 crores..This budget allocation was intended to cover the following expenses. i.e..Insurance cover for lawyers and their families (dependants)Stipend of at least Rs. 10, 000 per month for new entrants to the Bar up to 5 years of practiceFinancial protection for the dependants of lawyers in case of untimely death, incapacitation etc of the lawyer..However, a BCI delegation led by Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra was informed today by Union Law Minister RS Prasad that the Central Government is incapable of releasing the funds sought for as such decisions lie in the domain of individual states..Instead, the Law Minister assured that he would talk to the Delhi Development Authority for Delhi Lawyers in this regard. Moreover, Prasad is said to have stated that a committee of lawyers and officials would be constituted to propose ways in which welfare measures for lawyers may be introduced..However, the BCI release states that it is dissatisfied and dismayed by the hollow assurances given by the union government. The release further states,.“The Bar was under the impression that after witnessing the Unity and Reaction of about 18 lakhs lawyers of the country, the Government would accept the genuine demands of the lawyers.”.Other demands highlighted included the following,.All Bar Associations should have chamber, adequate building/accommodation/siiting facilities, well equipped libraries, e-libraries, internet facilities, toilets (including separate facilities for lady adequate) etc. The Government should frame schemes to acquire land at cheaper rates for Housing for Advocates (on the pattern of the Haryana Government)Legal Services Authority Act – amendments and necessary changes should be made in the Act so that the functions under this Act could be discharged by the Lawyers (and not the Judges or Judicial Officers only).All the Acts (which provide for appointments of retired Judges/Judicial Officers as the presiding Officers/Member of different Tribunals, Commissions or Forums/Authorities) should be properly amended so that competent Advocates (and not only the Judges) could also be appointed on these places..While informing that a meeting involving Bar Council and Bar Association representatives has been scheduled to be held in March, the BCI has also cautioned,.“If, before the issuance of notification of Parliamentary elections, the government does not not accept the demands of the Advocates, the lawyers would be constrained to take some strong decision.“.Read the BCI press release: