Srinagar, June 1: The High Court on Tuesday asked the government to come up with a clear stand regarding grant of financial assistance to the lawyers working in Jammu and Kashmir.
A bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey issued the direction while hearing a petition filed by a lawyer- M Abubakr Pandit. In his plea the petitioner is seeking a direction to the government through Commissioner Secretary, Department Law, and Law Secretary, to grant immediate financial assistance to the tune of Rs 25,000 to each advocate who has earlier received the financial assistance and is in actual practice within Jammu and Kashmir.
The petition is also seeking direction the government 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 in J&K.
Observing that on May 5 it had issued notice on the plea for filing their response, the court said the same has not been filed. The court directed senior Additional Advocate General to ensure filing of reply by or before next date of hearing.
“The Government shall come up with clear stand regarding release of the amount as financial aid to the lawyers on the patterns of already issued guidelines in the previous financial year, when similar type of lockdown/restrictions were imposed on account of Covid-19 Pandemic,” the court said.