The Supreme Court today (July 17) dismissed a plea filed by Supreme Court Bar Clerks Association seeking a monthly payment of Rs 15,000 to its members during closure of courts amid the COVID 19 lockdown.
The bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MR Shah has dismissed the petition.
The petition filed by the Supreme Court Bar Clerks Association highlighted the plight of the clerks facing financial crunch during the lockdown.
The Association had submitted that “most of the clerks are on the verge of penury having absolutely no money to even look after basic facilities, likely health and education of children and even arranging food for their family members. Thus, there is grave violation of the Article 21 of the Constitution because of the action / inaction of the Respondents (Centre and State Governments) where no alternative has been provided to the persons like the members of the Petitioner Association.”
The Association further pointing at the duty of the Union to protect the interest of its citizens submitted “the Union had announced a Rs 20 lakh crore financial aid pack in the month of May, which covers small scale industries, migrant workers and other financially distressed groups of persons. However, no such scheme has been formulated for the members of the Petitioner Association and other similarly placed persons, in the profession of “Clerk”, which is prevalent all over India. These members are an integral and indispensable part of our legal system and their survival must be given utmost importance.”
The Association had prayed for directions to the Union to come up with a scheme which is specifically aimed at ensuring the sustenance and survival of Supreme Court Clerks during uncertain times.
-India Legal Bureau