Karnataka govt to release Rs 4 crore as financial aid for lawyers

The Karnataka government told the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday that the State has decided to release an additional amount of Rs 4 crore as financial aid for lawyers to help them tide over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and financial difficulties due to the same.

The counsel appearing for the State government said that while in-principle decision has been taken for the same, the approval for release of the money will be granted once new cabinet is formed under the recently appointed Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

"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"

The a Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj was further told that all procedural requirements with regard to opening of bank account for investing an amount of Rs 10 lakh for the benefit of Registered Advocates Clerks, will be done as soon as the cabinet is formed.

The Court proceeded to record the same in its order.

"Additional Government Advocate states that all procedural formalities have been completed for opening the bank account. In principle, a decision has been taken to release an amount of Rs 4 crore for benefit of members of the bar. The final decision will be taken after formation of the Cabinet."

The Court was hearing a plea seeking financial aid for Advocate Clerks owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the previous hearing, the High Court had directed the State government to ensure that the committee formed under Section 4 (1)of the Karnataka Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 1983 opens an account in a scheduled bank so that it can receive amounts transferred to it for the welfare of lawyers' clerks.

The committee was formed as per the Court's previous directions, with a view to ensure that a bank account is immediately opened in the name of the Karnataka Registered Clerks' Welfare fund so that an amount of Rs. 10 lakh can be transferred by the Karnataka State Bar Council to the said account.

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 matter will be next heard on August 24.

"By the next date of hearing, make sure that everything is done, opening of bank account etc. We are giving you three weeks' time," the Court said.