New Delhi: A plea has been filed before the Andhra Pradesh High Court, protesting the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh’s decision to provide money from a government grant as ‘loans’ to needy advocates. The state government has sanctioned Rs 25 crores to be disbursed to lawyers struggling financially amid the pandemic.
The petitioner, Advocate Syed Ziauddin, said that the council’s decision to release the state sanctioned amount in the form of “loans” to the advocates is irrational and violative of principles of natural justice.
The petitioner’s grievance lies with the bar council’s resolution to disburse these amounts as ‘loans’ with interest. The petition records that the council has also floated a scheme for a health insurance cover for lawyers in need.
The petitioner has submitted that in complete derogation of this stipulation, the state bar council has decided to provide loans to the needy advocates, out of the above mentioned amount released by the government, at chargeable interest. That the government had resolved to release the amount for the welfare of struggling advocates, the same was “assistance” and not a “loan”, the petitioner states. Therefore, the amounts cannot be extended as loans to be repaid with interest imposed, he argues.
He also contends that the health insurance scheme was outside the scope of the government’s grant, as was the repayment requirement. The scheme impedes the efforts to aid financially-straitened advocates.
The plea also questions the notification of the loan and insurance scheme by the Andhra Pradesh Bar Council when it was the committee that was tasked with disbursement.
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Advocate Ziauddin also asserted that he had earlier sent a representation over the issue to the bar council.
-India Legal Bureau