Bombay HC issues notice to Bar Council, Maharahstra govt on plea seeking stipend for junior lawyers 

The Bombay HC issued a notice to the Bar Councils of Maharashtra and Goa on a PIL seeking stipend for junior lawyers.

The Bombay High Court on Monday issued a notice to the Bar Councils of Maharashtra and Goa while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a stipend for junior lawyers.

The division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice MS Karnik sought responses from the Bar Councils of Maharashtra and Goa; Advocates Welfare Fund Trust Committee and the state of Maharashtra by March 14.

The plea was entered by lawyers Ajit Deshpande, Akshay Desai and others who prayed for a stipend of Rs 5,000 per month.

The petition filed through advocates Asim Sarode, Ajinkya Udane, Smita Singalkar, Madan Kurhe and Trunal Tonape, stated that junior lawyers faced severe economic crisis due to Covid-19 pandemic and the accompanying lockdown.

The PIL said that new lawyers may face many difficulties in their initial years of practice and in view of this, the petition prayed that the Bar Council and the Maharashtra government should provide assistance to all the junior lawyers across the state.

The plea claimed that various High Courts across the country including Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh have already directed the respective authorities to provide monetary assistance to junior lawyers.

Advocate Sarode argued that there are enough funds available with the Bar Council and the same should be used for proper purpose like stipend for young lawyers.