Tripura Government to form Advocates’ Welfare Fund

A Correspondent

Agartala: The Tripura government has decided to form an Advocates’ Welfare Fund to help advocates in distress. This fund was a long pending demand of the law practicing people of the State. Announcing the decision, Law Minister Ratan Lal Nath said the fund will be formed through a legislation and the matter will come before the Cabinet soon.

He said the law will be enacted similar to the prevailing Central law and the laws in other States. Nineteen States of the country have Advocates’ Welfare Funds. In the Northeast, only Assam has a similar fund for the welfare of the advocates.

The minister said a trust will be formed to run the fund and the Advocate General will be the Chairman of the trust by virtue of post while the Law Secretary, Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor and two bar nominated members will be in the trust.

The State Government will provide the initial amount to constitute the fund and subsequently various organizations and individuals can contribute to the fund and facilities of Income Tax deduction in case of donating in this fund will be available.

In addition to that, 25 per cent of the license fees advocates donates during their entry into the profession to the Bar Council also will come in this fund.

The minister said there are many advocates in the bar whose earnings are not sufficient to maintain them especially after retirement. Many advocates are not in a position to undergo costly treatment in case of a critical disease. The fund is aimed at their welfare.

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