How can the Union of India pay compensation to Bar clerks? SC refuses to entertain plea for compensation by SC Bar Clerks' Association

The Supreme Court today refused to entertain a plea filed by the Supreme Court Bar Clerks' Association seeking direction to the government to pay compensation in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown, and loss of income..The matter was heard by a Bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MR Shah which sought to ask the petitioning organization how the Central government be directed to pay maintenance compensation to Bar Clerks.."How can Union of India pay this?"Justice Ashok Bhushan."Everyone will start coming to Courts then"Justice MR Shah.Senior Counsel Siddharth Luthra representing the Association sought to argue that such compensation payment schemes are a mandate under the Disaster Management Act, which has been invoked as of now. However, in light of the Court's disinclination to entertain the plea, Luthra sought permission to withdraw it and approach the Bar Council of India (BCI) instead.."How will Bar Council help with clerks," the Bench asked Luthra. The Court asked the petitioners to withdraw the petition lest it be dismissed and declined to hear the matter..The Bench was hearing a plea by the members of the Supreme Court Bar Clerks Association, who sought a direction to the government to provide them a monthly “maintenance compensation” of Rs 15,000 owing to financial difficulties arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.The plea claimed that a majority of clerks have been left unemployed ever since the lockdown was put in place to contain the COVID-19 pandemic..The petition filed through Advocate Deepak Prakash stated that clerks who normally earn from Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 by way of salary and tips given by the litigants are now on the “verge of penury.”.The petitioner association has stated that the Centre “owes a duty of care both in protecting the health of people at large and as well as the livelihood of every individual or citizen including the Advocates' clerks.”.The members of the petitioner association point out that they hail from far off places in Assam or Kerala and that it was necessary to formulate a scheme for their sustenance and “basic survival to implement the constitutional guarantees under Article 21 of our Constitution.”.The petition was settled by Senior Advocate Mohan V Katarki and drawn by Advocates Gaurav Agarwal and Divyangna Malik.