Bhubaneswar, March 3: The Odisha State Bar Council (OSBC) has announced that the Advocate Welfare Corpus Fund Act 2020 will be implemented from April 1, 2025. The Council has urged all lawyers to support this initiative, which is designed to improve their welfare and ensure better financial security for the legal community.
During a press conference, OSBC Chairman Sitanshu Mohan Dwibedy stated that, under the new Act, a mandatory stamp fee of Rs 100 will be charged when filing cases. The funds collected through this fee will be directed toward initiatives that benefit lawyers across Odisha.
Though the Act was enacted five years ago, its implementation was delayed. However, the newly elected Bar Council has resolved to activate it starting with the upcoming financial year. The funds generated will be used for various welfare programs, such as developing bar libraries, supporting junior advocates, and providing emergency aid, including medical treatment and death benefits for lawyers.
Of the Rs 100 stamp fee, Rs 20 will be allocated to the 190 bar associations across Odisha, with the remaining funds dedicated to the collective welfare of legal professionals. Chairman Dwibedy emphasized that these funds will assist lawyers in times of emergency, epidemics, and natural disasters.
The OSBC has also appealed to the State Government, Central Government, Bar Council of India, private companies, and individuals to contribute to the Corpus Fund. Donations from private entities and individuals will be eligible for income tax deductions. In addition, the state government has increased its grant for lawyer welfare from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore. However, the OSBC is pushing for an increase in this grant to Rs 50 crore.
Furthermore, the OSBC has requested the implementation of the Madhubabu Health Insurance Scheme, which provides Rs 10 lakh coverage for all lawyers, and the allocation of land for the establishment of a dedicated Lawyers Academy in the state.
Council members, including Vice Chairman Rajib Mohanty and senior lawyers such as Debi Prasad Dhal, Saurchandra Mohapatra, Bibhu Prasad Tripathy, Arupananda Das, and Atma Prakash Mohanty, provided comprehensive insights into the details of the Corpus Fund. This initiative is intended to offer better protection and support to the legal community in Odisha.
