The High Court of Karnataka has asked the State Bar Council, the Advocates’ Association, Bengaluru (AAB), and senior members of the Bar to come together to provide financial help to the clerks in distress in view of the closure of courts due to COVID-19 & consequent lockdown.
The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice M. Nagaprasanna was hearing a petition filed by Karnataka State Level Advocates’ Clerks Association, Bengaluru, seeking financial help to clerks who were in distress amid COVID 19 lockdown.
The bench observed that a clerk plays an important role in assisting Advocate in Court cases, however financial support cannot be granted to the clerks, registered under Karnataka Advocates’ Welfare Fund Act, 1983, since financial support under the act can only be provided when a clerk ceases to work or in case of death. Hence, the bench has asked the Advocates to evolve a scheme to provide a helping hand to the clerks.
The bench has asked the State Bar Council to convene a meeting in this regard and posted the matter for next hearing on May 29.
-India Legal Bureau