Chief Minister Hemant Soren today said that soon he is coming up with a scheme for accident and health insurance for all the advocates. “All of you along with your family will be able to get assistance of up to Rs. 5 lakh per year for better treatment. I have been told that the Jharkhand Advocates Association provides pension to retired advocates above 65 years of age from the Welfare Fund, today I announce among all of you that the state government will provide an amount equal to the amount of pension that the Welfare Trust will provide. In this way, the state government has thought of doubling the amount you get. I am also going to start the work of newly equipped bar complexes in each district very soon. As many complexes will be built in the state, all complexes will be equipped with all modern facilities including library, computer lab, meeting hall, necessary facilities for women etc,” he said.
Referring to the Eklavya Training Scheme, Chief Minister Protsahan Yojana and Guruji Student Credit Card Scheme, Model School etc, the Chief Minister said that we have come up with several schemes to provide quality education to the children of economically weaker families. “You can also take advantage of this. Your children will also do coaching for the preparation of engineering, medical, law etc, all the expenses of which will be borne by the state government. Under the Guruji Credit Card scheme, an education loan of up to Rs 15 lakh can be availed,” he said while addressing Bar Council members, APP and advocates from different districts of the state in the 'Chief Minister's Advocate Dialogue' programme organized here on Saturday.
A request has been made by the Jharkhand State Bar Council to enact the Advocates (Protection) Act. In this regard, correspondence has been made with various states of the country to know in what form the provisions and provisions of the Advocates Protection Act are in force for the protection of advocates under your state. A decision on the Advocates (Protection) Act will be taken after assessing other states.
Soren said that it is a fact that out of about 30 thousand active lawyers across the state, except for two to two and a half thousand lawyers, the situation of the rest remains pathetic. Today, there is not enough facility available for you advocates in various District and Sessions Courts and leave it in the High Court also. Do you advocate getting a library facility where you can read on subjects related to law at your leisure? Now times have changed. Day by day good decisions are coming in various prestigious courts. So that you can know these decisions better, our government will also provide computer and internet facilities in bar buildings.
The CM said that for the last few days the increase in court fees has become a topic of discussion among all of us. The judicial stamp which was Rs 5 in 1995 has been increased to Rs 20 after almost 27 years. Further, the CM said that if there is a way to reduce the court fees, the government will consider that too. The state government believes that care should always be taken and that no decision should become painful for the general public.
He said that the state government will soon issue an advertisement for the selection of notary advocates. Those of you who want to apply must apply. At the time of selection, care will also be taken as to how to give priority to the classes which are less represented.
The CM said that this is the first time in the state that 'Chief Minister's Advocate Dialogue' program has been organised. The main objective of this program is that the problems of the advocates can be resolved through dialogue. “I am fortunate that on the occasion of this dialogue program, I can help you by being aware of some of the problems faced by all of you advocates. All of you advocates are a strong pillar of the Judiciary. You keep a close watch on all the activities of the state government, whether those activities are political, administrative, judicial or otherwise,” he said.
The CM said that this platform of the CM Advocate Dialogue program is a completely new and different platform for him. By the way, there have been many occasions when I have got the opportunity to sit and discuss with the programs of the Central Government and the judges of different states. It was on these occasions that some desires arose in my mind to work on what could be good for the judicial system. As you all know, I have come out touching various political positions. Being the head of the state, the responsibility of various arrangements rests on my shoulders. This responsibility becomes more challenging when it comes to the all-round development of the tribals, dalits, poor, farmers, labourers and the needy. Today, somewhere or the other, all the people of the state have got hope from our government.
The CM said that when I am addressing you today, there are two reasons for this. How to solve the problems of this class, which has immense potential, on which there is a big responsibility? How to protect your interests? Second - How can the tribal/Dalit/backward people of the state get justice through you? He said that today a large number of under-trial prisoners are lodged in our districts. Under consideration because they are not getting time to think properly. If we talk about the caste or income of these prisoners, then most of them are tribal/Dalit/backward and minorities belong to low resource and low income groups. They have been jailed for years for petty crimes. Our government is making efforts to provide lawyers to such prisoners as well. Our priority is to provide justice to such prisoners.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister congratulated the judicial officers, APP, bar council members and advocates from different districts of the state on his behalf for the New Year. In the welcome address on the occasion, Advocate General Rajeev Ranjan threw light on the objectives of 'Chief Minister's Advocate Dialogue' programme.
On this occasion, MLA Sudivya Kumar Sonu, Advocate General Rajeev Ranjan, Chief Minister's Secretary Vinay Kumar Choubey, Secretary Law Department Nalin Kumar, judicial officers from different districts of the state, APP, Bar Council members and advocates were present in large numbers.