Allahabad High Court on Thursday addressing the issue of assisting the needy Advocates and Registered Advocate Clerks took judicial cognizance in the matter and has directed the authorities to explain the steps taken by them or to be taken with regards to this issue.
A divisional bench of Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Siddhartha Varma observed that due to the reduced pace of judicial working in the entire Country an enormous effect on the livelihood is visible on the profession of Advocates and the Registered Advocate Clerks.
The Chief Justice informed that he himself and the Registry has received several representations and messages to do the needful with respect to this issue. Whereas, the Court observed that “This Court is not having any funds to allocate for survival of needy Advocates and registered Advocate Clerks and the Court at the moment is also not in a position to restore its complete functioning.”
The bench also observed that under the Advocates Act, 1961 welfare of the Advocates fraternity and assist the needy Advocates is the responsibility of the Bar Council of India as well as the State Bar Council.
“We are not aware with any steps taken so far by any of the bodies aforesaid to assist the needy Advocates and the people attached with their office”, the Court said.
The Court has called upon Bar Council of India, New Delhi through its Secretary, Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh through its Secretary, the Principal Secretary, Department of Law, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, Allahabad High Court Bar Association, Allahabad through its General Secretary, Allahabad High Court Advocate’s Association, Allahabad through its General Secretary, Awadh Bar Association, Lucknow through its General Secretary by a notice.
The Court has also directed all of the above mentioned authorities to explain the steps taken by them or to be taken by them to assist the needy Advocates and the registered Advocate Clerks by 15th April, 2020.
-India Legal Bureau