Bombay High Court issues notices to Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa in PIL for junior lawyers stipend

Mumbai, 28th February 2022: The Division bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and MS Karnik of Bombay High Court issued notices to Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa and, Advocates Welfare Fund Trust Committee and State of Maharashtra returnable on 14th March.

The PIL has been filed by Adv. Asim Sarode, Adv. Ajinkya Udane, Adv. Smita Singalkar, Adv. Madan Kurhe on behalf of new lawyers Ajit Deshpande, Akshay Desai and others who have prayed for a Rs 5000 stipend per month to be given to new lawyers.

The PIL mentions that the Junior lawyers are being severely hit economically during the covid lockdown and new lawyers generally face many difficulties in their initial years of practice. Therefore looking all the circumstances Bar Council of Maharashtra and the State Government should provide economic assistance to all the junior lawyers across the state.

Also, various High Courts across the country including Delhi, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh have already directed to respective authorities to provide assistance in monetary form to junior lawyers. “Taking these into account why Maharashtra Govt and Bar Council are lagging behind in providing such economical support to us in the form of monthly stipend?” asked Ajit Deshpande and Akshay Desai who are among the petitioners in the PIL.

Bar Council should use the provisions of the Advocate’s Act for the welfare of young lawyers. There is enough fund available with the Bar Council. So they should use this fund for real welfare schemes like providing a stipend to young lawyers. But yet they haven’t taken any step to do this. Therefore we’ve approached the Hon’ble High Court, said Adv. Asim Sarode is representing the petitioners. Further hearing in the case is scheduled on 14th March informed Adv Ajinkya Udane.