(Top) High Court Bar Association, Nagaland during submission of BCI resolution to Governor in Kohima on February 12 (Bottom) Dimapur Bar Association during submission of BCI resolution to the PM through the DC of Dimapur on February 12.
Kohima/Dimapur, February 12 (MExN): The High Court Bar Association, Nagaland today joined the nationwide protest rally under the aegis of Bar Council of India (BCI).
Around 120 members of the Association rallied from Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court premises to Raj Bhavan and submitted a BCI resolution to Nagaland State Governor, PB Acharya, which was received by his Secretary in his absence.
The advocates through the BCI have been demanding fulfillment of the assurances by Prime Minister Narendra Modi made to the lawyers of the country on March 1, 2014 during a BCI organized function at Gandhinagar where the PM was the chief guest as the then Chief Minister of Gujarat.
The BCI resolution recalled that Modi had then given a clear assurance to the lawyers that if he becomes the Prime Minister of the country, he would make some budgetary provisions for lawyers, the legal profession and their welfare.
The Council lamented that the demands are yet to be fulfilled because of which the nationwide protect rally was held today.
High Court Bar Association Nagaland Vice President, N Mozhui, and Joint Secretary, Joshua Sheqi, appended the letter submitted to the Nagaland’s Governor.
Meanwhile, in a memorandum to the Prime Minister, the Dimapur Bar Association (DBA) unanimously resolved to support and endorse the recommendations/demands of the BCI in its meeting held on February 12.
The recommendations/demands, as submitted to the PM Modi, were read out to the members and it was further resolved that the support and endorsement of the DBA for the said recommendations/demands be submitted to the PM through the Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur.
“In submitting this representation the DBA hopes and trusts that the Prime Minister will act promptly and favorably,” stated the DBA in its memorandum signed by DBA President, Imti Imsong and Secretary, Hukavi Zhimomi.
Nagaland lawyers join nationwide protest rally
The demands of the Bar Council of India include:
- Insurance cover upto Rs. 20 lakh for the Lawyers and their families (dependents).
- 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 these 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, internet, toilets etc. and facilities for lady advocates.
- Interest free housing loans, loans for Library, Vehicle for the needy Advocates. Government should acquire lands at cheaper rates for the Housing of Advocates.
- Legal Services Authority Act - Amendments and 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 or 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 lakh.
