JUNIOR LAWYERS ARE SELLING TEA TO SURVIVE - KERALA HC

The Kerala High Court came down strongly on the lack of action of the Bar Council of Kerala in implementing a Government Order(GO) issued in March 2018, which had authorized payment of ₹5,000 per month as a stipend for junior lawyers. The single judge Justice PV Kunhikrishnan was a plea regarding the implementation of the GO expeditiously especially, during the difficult times of the pandemic and its adverse effect on junior lawyers.

"There are lawyers who sell tea to survive. The Court ordered them to provide them with a small amount to support, but the Bar Council couldn't amend and frame a rule." "The order was issued in 2018, and it's been three years, and still no necessary rules are framed."

Ashok Cherian, Additional Advocate General, submitted that the delay was due to the lack of resources. In order to implement the GO, a sum of Rs ₹36 crores would be required per annum. The judge immediately said, "they have funds to build new guest houses"?

Senior Advocate Gracious Kuriakose, appearing for the Bar Council of Kerala, said that rules are already framed as per the GO.

The Court further directed the Government and the Bar Council of Kerala to file a report within the next two months. "All the 42 judges of this Court are concerned about junior lawyers, and everybody is on their side. Why are we sitting here? If we do not understand their plight?

Author: Papiha Ghoshal