New Delhi (ILNS): The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a plea filed by a lawyers’ body seeking interest-free loans for them of up to Rs 20 lakh each. The loans were to be on account of financial problems being faced by them because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A three-judge bench of the Chief Justice S. A. Bobde, Justice A. S. Bopanna and Justice V. Ramasubramaniun heard the plea filed by the Supreme Court Arguing Counsel Association through advocate Varinder Kumar Sharma.
The plea states that the association consists of legal practitioners from across the country who are facing a financial crisis in the pandemic situation. “They have taken loans for their offices and houses. In the present pandemic situation normal work of the courts are suspended for the last six months and there is no chance that work will resume smoothly in the near future,” the plea said.
“The whole purpose of speedy trial is intended to avoid oppression and prevent delay. It is a sacrosanct obligation of all concerned with the justice dispensation system to see that the administration of justice delivery system becomes effective, vibrant and meaningful and trained advocates are the strength of this speedy trial,” the plea added.
The court said: “You are an unregistered association. You can intervene in the matter already pending on the same issue and we will hear you. We don’t want to have a multiplicity of petitions. There is already a pending matter. Allowed to withdraw with the liberty to file an intervening application, we will hear you.”
-ILNS