In a significant development on Friday, the Jharkhand government approved a bill offering insurance, stipends, and pensions for lawyers, marking a major step towards enhancing the welfare of legal professionals in the state. The cabinet meeting, led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, sanctioned several measures aimed at providing substantial financial support to the state’s legal community.
Under the newly cleared bill, all 30,000 practicing advocates in Jharkhand will receive a medical insurance cover of ₹5 lakh. Additionally, the government has introduced a pension scheme, promising a monthly pension of ₹14,000 to eligible advocates. To further support new entrants in the legal field, the bill stipulates a ₹5,000 monthly stipend for all new advocates during their first five years of practice.
Advocate General of Jharkhand, Rajiv Rajan, who proposed the idea, highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting the legal profession and ensuring that lawyers can practice without financial worries.
This legislative move by Jharkhand reflects a growing trend across India to support young and practicing lawyers. In 2023, the Kerala government initiated a stipend scheme offering ₹3,000 per month to young lawyers meeting specific criteria, such as being under 30 years of age, having less than three years of practice, and earning less than ₹1 lakh annually.
The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry has also been proactive, mandating a minimum stipend of ₹20,000 for junior advocates working in major cities like Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore. This directive followed a Madras High Court order requiring the enforcement of minimum stipend payments to junior lawyers.
In another related development, the Delhi High Court recently instructed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to decide on a representation concerning the payment of a minimum stipend to junior lawyers within six weeks. Moreover, the BCI has urged the Central government to implement a comprehensive medical or health insurance scheme for advocates and their families.
