'Come Up With Clear Stand Qua Release Of Amount as Financial Aid to the Lawyers' : J&K HC to State govt. [READ ORDER]

On Tuesday( June 1, 2021), the Jammu and Kashmir High Court directed the government to come up with a clear stand regarding the release of amount as financial aid to lawyers on the patterns of already issued guidelines in the previous financial year when a similar type of lockdown/ restrictions was imposed on account of Covid-19 pandemic.

This significant order has been passed in a petition filed by M Abubakar Pandit seeking a direction to respondents to grant immediate financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 25,000 to each advocate(s).who  have earlier received the financial assistance and are in actual practice within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The plea also seeking, further direction 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 bench comprising of Justice Ali Mohammad Magray.

The plea stated about the financial condition of advocates as follows,

"Since the pandemic has started many advocates became COVID Positive and some were also hospitalized and to bear the medical expenses they approached various members of the Bar for financial aid whereas there was no assistance by the Respondents." 

Advocates and their family members were struggling in the ongoing corona period. Many advocates couldn't get enough money to feed their family due to the pandemic period 

The response was not filed

The court earlier on consideration of the matter had passed an order dated 5 May 2021, wherein notice was issued to the respondents for filing their response.

Today when the matter came up for hearing before the court, it was learned that the “response was not filed”.

High Court directed Sr. AAG, B A Dar 

High Court directed Sr. AAG, B A Dar to ensure filing of reply by or before next date of hearing and also directed the Government shall come up with clear stand qua release of amount as financial aid to lawyers on the pattern of already issued guidelines. The petitioner, who was present in person before the Court, shall supply a copy of the petition to B A Dar, Sr AAG by any available mode, to enable him to reply as directed.

[READ ORDER]