The Madras High Court has directed the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to issue circulars mandating that all bar associations in the state and union territory pay junior lawyers a minimum monthly stipend. The stipend is set at ₹15,000 to ₹20,000, depending on the location of practice. When determining the stipend amount, the court took into account basic living costs and the state's prevalent cost index. The Bar Council will hold a meeting to decide on the eligibility criteria for junior advocates.
The Madras High Court has ordered the Bar Council to ensure a minimum monthly #stipend of ₹15,000 to ₹20,000 for all registered junior lawyers. #LegalRights #JuniorLawyers #MadrasHighCourt #BarCouncil #Lawyers pic.twitter.com/JBteoUQrY1— VYGR News (@Vygrofficial) June 12, 2024
The bar council has four weeks to send out circulars
The TN Bar Council asked for two months to send out the circulars, but the court told them they had to do it in four weeks. The council also has to tell the court by July 10 if it is following the rules. The court was hearing a plea about how to give money to the Puducherry Advocates Welfare Fund. The government of Puducherry said it wasn't against giving money to different groups, but that disagreements between lawyer groups had caused delays. The court told the local bar associations they had four months to work together and find an answer.
Lawyer's gender identity should not influence their monthly pay
The court also made it clear that a lawyer's gender identity should not influence their monthly pay. The Bar Council's circulars should explicitly state this. The court highlighted the disparity in pay between men and women and demanded equal treatment for all lawyers, including transgender individuals.
Junior lawyers being taken advantage
The court had said before that top lawyers were taking advantage of junior lawyers who worked for them by not paying them even a small amount. Their basic rights were being broken. The recent order from the court aims to address this issue and ensure equitable compensation for young lawyers.
In conclusion
The Madras High Court told the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to send circulars to all young lawyers saying that they must receive a minimum monthly stipend. This is a big step towards fair pay and equal treatment in the legal field. The court has considered the costs of living and the common cost index to figure out how much money junior lawyers need. It's also good that the court is putting a lot of stress on not discriminating based on gender identity. Junior lawyers will have fewer problems because of this order. It will also make the workplace a better place for them to learn and grow in their career.
Image Source: Multiple Agencies
Inputs from Agencies
© Copyright 2024. All Rights Reserved Powered by Vygr Media.
