Khushi
The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday directed the State government to open a bank account in the name of the Karnataka registered Clerks Welfare Fund (Fund) immediately so that a sum of Rs 10 lakh can be transferred by the Karnataka State Bar Council (KSBC). This decision is taken to ensure the financial assistance to clerks of lawyers across the state.
The direction was passed by the Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj while dealing with a plea to provide financial assistance to Advocates’ clerks amid the situation of COVID-19 pandemic.
The Court also directed the constitution of a committee contemplated under the Karnataka State Welfare Fund Rules, so they are empowered to manage and administer the Welfare Fund.
“We direct the State government to ensure that the committee as contemplated under Section 4 (1) of the Karnataka Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 1983 is properly constituted and the bank account in the name of the Fund (Karnataka registered Clerks Welfare Fund) is immediately opened,” the order said.
The directions were passed after the petitioner Advocate Murthy D Naik informed the Court that though the KSBC decided to transfer money to the Fund, the committee empowered to administer the Fund is currently inoperative.
