Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 18: Despite High Court directions, Government has failed to disburse financial assistance to deserving advocates on account of lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.
High Court on June 29 had directed the Govt to expedite the release of financial assistance to deserving lawyers as the amount has been sanctioned by the Government for them on account of lockdown imposed due to Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.
In this regard an amount of Rs 1 crore has been furnished by the Principal Secretary to Lieutenant Governor to the concerned in shape of a cheque on June 24.
When asked to petitioner-Advocate who has filed a petition before the High Court said he has approached the concerned and has been informed that the same is pending before committee and they will decide.
The direction for disbursing the amount followed after the court was informed that the LG has sanctioned Rs one crore as financial assistance in favour of Advocates working in different court of J&K UT out of relief fund.
A Practicing lawyer Abu Bakr Pandit has approached the court by way of a writ petition seeking direction on Secretary Law Department to grant immediate financial aid to each lawyer practicing in J&K.
The petitioner is seeking immediate financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 25, 000 to each advocate who has earlier received the financial assistance and are in actual practice within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
He also seeks medical and life insurance policy for the welfare of the advocates and their family members practicing before the High Court and District Courts.
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.
Follow our WhatsApp channel