Jharkhand State Bar Council has requested the Government to frame the Advocates Protection Act adding lawyers were at risk of being attacked by aggrieved litigants. The Bar Council members raised the demand in a meeting with Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das.
Advocate General and president of the Bar Council Ajit Kumar and general secretary of Ranchi District Bar Council Sanjay Vidrohi mentioned before the CM that nature of their works is such that they have to regularly deal with the law enforcement agencies as well as the unlawful elements.
They representatives stated that on several occasions some of the litigants get unjustly aggrieved and seek to avenge by way of unlawful measures. They said that under the circumstances the government should frame a law which provides protection from unjustly vengeful attitude of such people.
While pointing out that monetary position of several advocates in state was not good, the office bearers opined that medical insurance coverage must be provided to the lawyers of the state under the Auyshman scheme.
They also asked the government to waive off the cost of land provided for the Lawyer’s Academy in Doranda. It may be stated here the council possesses approximately 44 decimal of land at North Para, Doranda where it seeks to establish the academy for continuing legal education of lawyers. However the formal transfer of land from the government to the council is yet to take place.
The members also stated that the applicable cost of the land be waived as the objective of the said academy shall be towards such works which promote the objective of the state.
They also sought support of the state government for its legal awareness and legal aid assistance programme.
Speaking to media persons on the meeting Ajit Kumar said, “Several welfare schemes for the lawyers including the Advocates Protection Act and the Ayushman Bharat scheme were taken up during the brief meeting with the CM. The CM has responded positively to the demands”.