Senior lawyer Shibananda Ray on Thursday alleged that the State Government has deceived lawyers by deciding to use the State Advocates’ Welfare Fund for payment of financial assistance to the needy advocates in times of crisis which are arisen on account of natural calamity, pandemic etc.
“On Thursday, the State Cabinet approved a proposal for amendment of the Odisha Advocates' Welfare Fund Act, 1987 by promulgation of Ordinance. The amendment will pave way for use of existing Advocates’ Welfare Fund for assistance to lawyers affected by natural calamities and pandemic. This means, the Government will not allocate any fund to provide Covid pandemic assistance to lawyers. Lawyers have been cheated,” said Ray in a statement.
He demanded that the Government provide loans of Rs 10 lakh to needy lawyers without security as they do in case of small businessmen. He too demanded that the Government announce lawyers as Covid warriors as many of them have been infected with the virus while managing cases for their clients.