Madras High Court asks State Bar Council to call for details of advocates interested in availing health insurance

The Madras High Court on Monday asked the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to issue a circular calling for the details of advocates (and their family members) who would be interested in availing group health insurance for advocates (Sudha Ramalingam v The Bar Council and ors)..The Court noted that unless the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu gets necessary details of such advocates and their family members, it would be impossible for any insurance scheme to be implemented, even if it is accepted by the insurance companies..Therefore, in the interest of practicing advocates, the Court directed the Tamil Nadu Bar Council to issue a circular inviting advocates to come forward with necessary details if they would be interested in availing health insurance..This circular/ notification is to be issued within two weeks after the receipt of the order copy. The Bar Council has been asked to file a report on how many people have responded positively to the same after six weeks' time..A Bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and R Pongiappan was hearing a petition filed by senior lawyer Sudha Ramalingam seeking the formulation of a Group Health Insurance (Medi Claim Policy) for advocates enrolled with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as well as their dependent family members.."Many lawyers lost their lives due to lack of mediclaim policy:" Madras High Court forms committee to examine insurance coverage for advocates .Senior advocate Ramalingam had moved the plea after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the complete lack of healthcare measures for advocates, the Court recounted today. .Even though there are welfare measures taken by the Bar Council, the insurance scheme in place does not cover health insurance, the Court noted. .Last March, the Court had ordered the constitution of a committee to look into how medical insurance coverage can be provided for advocates. When the matter was heard next in April, the Court was informed of the insurance coverage offered to members of the Delhi Bar Council and advocates in Andhra Pradesh. .The Court was informed that two (National Insurance and United India) have submitted proposals in the matter in so far as lawyers in Tamil Nadu are concerned. .Having recorded the submission, the Court has now asked the remaining two Public Sector Insurance Companies (New India and Oriental) to also place their tentative quotations before the committee already constituted by the Court in three weeks' time.