Dismissing a petition seeking financial assistance to needy lawyers amid COVID 19 lockdown the High Court of Rajasthan held that providing compensation or any financial assistance to any particular segment of the Society is a matter of policy which required no interference by the Court.
The petition had been filed by Advocate Mahesh Sharma and Bhuwnesh Sharma who informed the bench that the Bar Council of India had recently issued a grant of one crore rupees to the Bar Council of Rajasthan for the purpose, but the amount was insufficient.
The petitioners further submitted that though a request was made to the State Government by the Bar Council to release the funds for the welfare of advocates but the State Government has did not pay any heed to the issue.
The petitioners further submitted that “the Bar Council of Delhi had provided a sum of Rs.5000/- to their needy members, therefore, the State Government as well as the Bar Council of India may be directed to provide sufficient funds to meet the requirements of needy and young advocates.”
The bench comprising Justice Satish Kumar Sharma and Justice Indrajit Mahanty directed the Bar Council of Rajasthan to first consider at its own to provide necessary financial assistance to its members. Further a request may be made to the the Bar Council of India to release additional funds for the purpose. The Bar Council of Rajasthan may also pursue their demand with the State Government for its early consideration.
-India Legal Bureau