Minister’s assurance on advocates’ protection

Minister for Law and Justice NMD Farooq has assured advocates that a proposal for implementing the advocates protection act would be placed before the State Cabinet within the next 15 days.

A delegation of advocates from various Bar Associations across Andhra Pradesh met the Minister following a call given by the Hindu Lawyers Forum. Forum president G Sri Krishna and State Government High Court Standing Counsel Gangishetti Rajeswara Rao introduced the advocates to the Minister and submitted a memorandum highlighting their key demands.

The delegation sought implementation of the Advocates Protection Act, payment of Nyayamitra stipends to eligible junior advocates and enhancement of the age limit relating to the Advocates Welfare Fund, among other issues.

Responding to the demands, Farooq said the proposal concerning the advocates protection act had already received the approval of the Finance Department.

He assured the delegation that steps would be taken to place it before the Cabinet at the earliest, preferably at the Cabinet meeting scheduled within the next 15 days.

The minister said the assurance could be treated as a commitment from the State government.

He also said he would bring the issue of providing stipends to eligible junior advocates under the Nyayamitra scheme to the notice of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

On the demand to raise the age limit for eligibility under the Advocates Welfare Fund, Farooq said the government would examine the proposal to increase it from the existing 35 years to 40 years and consider sending a recommendation to the Bar Council of India.

The minister interacted with the advocates for nearly two hours and heard their concerns and suggestions. Senior advocate Purna Mahesh, Challa Jayaram, Bar Council member Shantakumar and advocates representing various Bar Associations attended the meeting.

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