The Bombay High Court on Monday issued notice to the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking stipend for junior lawyers. .A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice MS Karnik of Bombay High Court sought response from the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa and, Advocates Welfare Fund Trust Committee and State of Maharashtra by March 14.The petition filed by young lawyers Ajit Deshpande, Akshay Desai and others has prayed for a stipend of ₹5,000 per month. The PIL was filed through advocates Asim Sarode, Ajinkya Udane, Smita Singalkar, Madan Kurhe and Trunal Tonape..The plea said that junior lawyers have been severely affected economically by Covid-19 pandemic and the accompanying lockdown. New lawyers face many difficulties in their initial years of practice.In view of the above, the petition prayed that the Bar Council and the State government should provide assistance to all the junior lawyers across the State.The plea pointed out that various High Courts across the country including Delhi, Tamil Nadu , Kerala, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh already directed the respective authorities to provide monetary assistance to junior lawyers.There are enough funds available with the Bar Council and the same should be used for proper purpose like stipend for young lawyers, advocate Sarode argued. The matter will be heard again on March 14.
The Bombay High Court on Monday issued notice to the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking stipend for junior lawyers. .A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice MS Karnik of Bombay High Court sought response from the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa and, Advocates Welfare Fund Trust Committee and State of Maharashtra by March 14.The petition filed by young lawyers Ajit Deshpande, Akshay Desai and others has prayed for a stipend of ₹5,000 per month. The PIL was filed through advocates Asim Sarode, Ajinkya Udane, Smita Singalkar, Madan Kurhe and Trunal Tonape..The plea said that junior lawyers have been severely affected economically by Covid-19 pandemic and the accompanying lockdown. New lawyers face many difficulties in their initial years of practice.In view of the above, the petition prayed that the Bar Council and the State government should provide assistance to all the junior lawyers across the State.The plea pointed out that various High Courts across the country including Delhi, Tamil Nadu , Kerala, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh already directed the respective authorities to provide monetary assistance to junior lawyers.There are enough funds available with the Bar Council and the same should be used for proper purpose like stipend for young lawyers, advocate Sarode argued. The matter will be heard again on March 14.
