The Punjab & Haryana High Court recently issued notice to the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana in a plea seeking minimum stipend/remuneration for young and junior lawyers. [Vivek Tiwari & Anr v. BCI & Anr].The plea sought the formulation of guidelines on paying of stipend to young lawyers, a robust complaint redressal system, public awareness campaigns and periodic reporting to the Court.A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Nidhi Gupta noted that the Kerala government has inaugurated a scheme under which lawyers under the age of 30 years, with less than 3 years of law practice and annual income of less than ₹1 lakh will be eligible to receive ₹3,000 per month as stipend/remuneration.It thus asked the petitioners to place this scheme on record.Advocates Vivek Tiwari and Abhishek Malhotra filed the plea, highlighting that the absence of a proper compensation system hinders individuals, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, from entering the legal profession. This, they argued, adversely affects diversity and inclusivity in the field.The plea seeks standardized stipend and remuneration guidelines, proposing a minimum stipend of ₹15,000 for young advocates and ₹5,000 for law interns.The petition is inspired by global best practices and emphasizes the need for the BCI to frame and implement guidelines ensuring fair compensation, the petitioners stated."The instant case contends that the absence of such a system not only deters potential advocates from pursuing legal education but also contributes to mental health issues and high attrition rates among young lawyers."
TAGS: Punjab & Haryana High Court Bar Council of India (BCI) Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana
