The State Assembly on Tuesday passed the Odisha Advocates’ Welfare Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2020 that proposes use of the fund as assistances to needy lawyers during Covid-19 and other natural calamities.
As per the provisions in the Odisha Advocates’ Welfare Fund Act, 1987, the available funds were being used for payment of assistances to lawyers in cases of death and superannuation only. The Act was amended to use funds for payment of assistances to needy lawyers during natural calamities.
“The Advocate Welfare Fund has about Rs 28 crore now. We have received 1,200 applications seeking assistances during the Covid-19 situation. By amendment to the Act, we will be able to use available funds for payment of assistances to lawyers when they will be affected by natural calamities.
The Bill was passed after a brief discussion. Congress Legislature Party Leader Naraingha Mishra and BJD members Amar Satpathy and Kishore Mohanty supported it. Besides, the Industrial Disputes (Odisha Amendment) Bill, 2020, the Odisha Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2020 and the Odisha Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill 2020 were passed in the Assembly during the afternoon hours.
As per the Industrial Disputes (Odisha Amendment) Bill, 2020, MSME units having 300 workers would be required to give two months’ notice or two months’ salary to a worker or workers whom they want to expel job. The Municipal Laws (Amendment) Bill provides for use of 25 of funds allocated for urbaln local bodies in the slum areas.
Besides, it created a provision of giving trading licence to businessmen on the day of application. The licence would be regularised after a thorough scrutiny in three months.The amended GST Act will make tax administration easy, said Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari.