In a landmark ruling on Wednesday, the Madras High Court mandated the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to ensure junior lawyers receive a mandatory monthly stipend, acknowledging the financial challenges faced by newcomers in the legal field.
The Division Bench, comprising Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice C Kumarappan, directed the TN Bar Council to instruct all bar associations in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to provide junior lawyers in Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore with a minimum monthly stipend of ?20,000. Lawyers practicing in other cities are to receive at least ?15,000. This initiative covers basic living expenses and aligns with regional cost indices.
Emphasizing the need for a dignified existence for junior lawyers, the bench referenced Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to livelihood.
The ruling came in response to a petition urging the Puducherry government to allocate funds for the local Advocates Welfare Fund. Although the government expressed its support, it cited delays due to internal disputes among lawyer groups. The court has urged local bar associations to resolve these issues within four months.
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