Sharmili Mallick

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Bar Council on Wednesday put forth a series of demands before Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the welfare of as many 60,000 lawyers across the State.

In a letter to the CM, the Bar Council said, “Odisha Government has done a lot for professionals like doctors, engineers, lecturers, teachers, journalists whereas not a single demand of the lawyers have been fulfilled.”

The Bar Council has demanded the amendment of the Odisha Advocates’ Welfare Fund Act, 1987 to give maximum benefit of Rs 9 lakh (Rs 30,000 per year for a period of 30 years) to a lawyer on his retirement or death.

The other demands of the lawyers include stipend of Rs 10,000 per month to budding advocates until they complete five years of practice, allotment of 2 acres of land for the establishment of Advocates’ Academy, grant of Rs 5 crore to the pension fund of the Bar Council and additional allocation of Rs 2 crore to Advocates’ Welfare Fund Trust.

The Bar Council has demanded the CM to fulfill their demands before the enforcement of conduct rule by Election Commission of India for the upcoming general polls.

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