Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 1: High Court today sought stand from the Government qua the release of financial assistance to the lawyers practising with the Union Territory of J&K on account of lockdown imposed due to COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.
A practising lawyer Abu Bakr Pandit has approached the court by way of a writ petition seeking direction to Secretary Law Department to grant immediate financial aid to each lawyer practising in J&K.
Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, on consideration of the matter said despite notice no response has been filed by the officials and directed filing of the same before next date of hearing.
Meantime, Court directed that the Government come up with clear stand qua release of amount as financial aid to the lawyers on the patterns of already issued guidelines in the previous financial year, when similar type of lockdown/ restrictions were imposed on account of COVID-19 Pandemic.
The petitioner is seeking immediate financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 25,000 to each advocate who have earlier received the financial assistance and are in actual practice within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
He also seeks to formulate a medical and life insurance policy for the welfare of the advocates and their family members practicing before the High Court and District Court(s) within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Registrar General of the court on April 28 last year had issued an order wherein the applications were invited from advocates enrolled with J&K State Bar Council, who are in dire need of financial assistance because of grave financial hardship on account of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, for consideration for payment of financial assistance.
Petitioner submitted that the advocates who were exclusively practicing before the High Court and were availing the benefit of the scheme furnished the details to Registrar Judicial in the prescribed format which was scrutinized by the committee comprising of Registrar Judicial of respective Wings, President/Secretary of respective High Court Bar Association, Joint/Deputy Registrar (Accounts) of respective Wings.
Likewise advocates who were practicing in the District Courts submitted the applications in a prescribed format before the District Judges of the District Courts which was also scrutinized by the committee consisting of concerned Principal District Judge, Chief Judicial Magistrate and President /Secretary official of the Bar Association.
The deserving advocates were paid an amount of Rs 5,500 in two instalments determined by the Administrative Committee of the High Court on the availability of funds provided by the Government and keeping in view the status of an Advocate the Registrar General through released the first Instalment of Rs 3,000 as a financial assistance to meet the financial hardship on the recommendation of the District Level and High Court Level committees. Thereafter the second instalment for an amount of Rs 2,500 was released for the desired advocates to meet the need as a financial assistance.
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