The Bar Council of India had written to Prime minister Narendra Modi raising 10 demands for the welfare of advocates. Also asked to allocate an annual budget of Rs 50,000 crore. They demanded a medi claim which will be an insurance cover of Rs 20 lakh for the lawyers. In that letter they stated that The Budget Session is to begin very soon, our request is very simple. As a citizens of this country, the lawyers and their families have also the right to get the bare minimum requirements of life and to live a respectable and secured life.”. BCI mention why they submit this letter, “ you [Modi] gave a clear assurance to the Lawyers of the country that if you become the PM of the country, you will make some Budgetary provisions for Lawyers, the Legal Profession and their welfare
Here are the 10 Demands of BCI:
- Insurance cover up to Rs. 20, 00, 000/- for the Lawyers and their families (dependents).
- Medi-claim: free medical treatment of every type of disease in best Hospitals of India & other countries (if needed) for the Advocates. Lawyers should be provided a “special card” for this purpose, so that they could avail the benefit of this schemes anytime, anywhere.
- Stipend for needy new entrants at the Bar upto 5 years of their practice (Minimum Rs. 10, 000/- Per Month)
- Scheme for pension for old/indigent Advocates and provision for family pension in case of untimely death of Advocates (Minimum Rs. 50, 000/- per month).
- Advocates Protection Act to be enacted for Advocates of the Country by the Parliament
- All the Bar Associations of the country should have adequate building/accommodation/sitting facilities with well-equipped Libraries, e-libraries, with internet, toilets etc. and facilities for lady advocates.
- Interest-free house loans, loans for Library, Vehicle for the needy Advocates. The government should acquire lands at cheaper rates for the Housing of Advocates.
- Legal Services Authority Act – Amendments & necessary changes should be made in the Act so that the functions under this Act could be discharged by the Lawyers (and not the Judges or Judicial Officers only.
- All the Acts (which provide for appointments of retired Judges/Judicial Officers as the Presiding Officers/ Member of different Tribunals, Commissions of Forums/ Authorities) should be properly amended so that competent Advocates (and not only the Judges) could also be appointed on these places.
- In case of untimely death of any Advocate (below 65 years of age) due to accident, murder, any disease, the Government should grant the family/dependents at least a sum of Rs 50, 00, 000 /- (fifty lakhs)
