Khushi
To cover the medical expenses of advocates enrolled with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (BCTNP) and their family members.
The Madras High Court has constituted a committee to confer with the State government and the insurance companies and come up with a group health insurance policy.
The cognisance was taken due to the fact that COVID-19 has cost the lives of many advocates in the state.
The order was passed by the Bench of Justices N. Kirubakaran and R. Pongiappan while granting interim orders on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by activist-lawyer Sudha Ramalingam.
The petitioner, a senior member of the Bar, had suggested that after collecting money through the sale of insurance stamps, the government could be directed to provide insurance to the lawyers and their families.
The Court has decided to prompt suggestions from a committee after finding potential in her submissions, so the State Government can be involved in the necessary discussions.
The Court appointed Advocate General Vijay Narayan as the chairman of the committee, Additional Advocate General P.H. Arvindh Pandian was appointed as its coordinator, and PIL petitioner Ms. Ramalingam, too, was inducted as one of its members.
The judges ordered that Additional Solicitor General R. Sankaranarayanan, Insurance Law expert N. Vijayaraghavan, National Insurance Company Standing Counsel S. Arunkumar, the company’s senior Divisional Manager P. Manoharan, BCTNP member M.R. Sivasubramaniam, BCTNP standing counsel C.K. Chandrasekharan and advocate S. Devika shall also be the members of the committee and are expected to suggest viable proposals to the court.