J&K HC asks Registrar General to release money for distribution among lawyers affected by COVID lockdown
Srinagar: The J&K High Court Tuesday directed the Registrar General to release for distribution an amount of Rs one crore sanctioned by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha among the lawyers affected by the Covid lockdown.
A single bench of the court hearing a petition by advocate M Abubakr Pandit directed the Registrar General to “expedite the matter for release of amount in favor of the deserving lawyers, who have already applied, so as to ensure their timely help and assistance”.
The petitioner lawyer had sought a direction upon the respondent authorities to grant immediate financial assistance to the tune of Rs 25,000 to each practicing lawyer of J&K.
The lawyer prayed for repetition of the precedent of past year when the lawyers were provided the financial assistance as were affected by the closure of the courts due to the lockdown.
The petitioner also wanted a further direction to the authorities to formulate a medical and life insurance policy for the welfare of the advocates (and their family members) practicing before the High Court and district courts within the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
On consideration of the matter, the High Court had passed an order on 1st of this June and issued a notice to other side.
It had directed the respondents to ensure filing of reply and come up with clear stand qua release of amount as financial aid to the lawyers on the pattern of already issued guidelines in the previous financial year, when similar type of lockdown and restrictions were imposed in the union territory.
Today, when the matter was taken up for hearing, D C Raina, the advocate general of J&K, produced a communication bearing No. LAW-Jud/41/2021-10 dated 24.06.2021, addressed to Registrar General, by Additional Secretary to the government.
The communication intimated that the Lieutenant Governor J&K has sanctioned an amount of Rs 1.00 crore as financial assistance in favor of advocates working in different courts of UT of Jammu and Kashmir out of his Relief Fund.
A cheque bearing No. 652739 was enclosed with the communication. Copy of the letter along with cheque was taken on record by the bench while directing for instant release of the money among the affected lawyers.
Rashid Paul is Associate Editor at Kashmir Images.
He can be reached at [email protected]
