BCI Moves Apex Court Seeking Appointment of Nodal Authorities, to Provide Medical Facilities for Advocates, Judges, Their Families
(Judicial Quest News Network)
The Bar Council of India has written a letter to the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and other judges of the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Union and State government to provide sufficient medical facilities to advocates, judges, their staff and families amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
In wake of the death of eminent judges and Advocates and Judges due to COVID-19 in the past few weeks, the BCI has urged the top court to pass directions to the Union and State Governments for providing sufficient beds and other COVID-19treatment facilities to the advocates, judges, their staff and families who are in the need at District and Taluka level, High Courts and wherever necessary.
The letter begins with a request to treat the BCI’s demands as a separate PIL to be listed today or tomorrow or as in interlocutory petition in the Suo motu matter begin heard by the apex court.
Noting the losses suffered by the legal fraternity over the past few weeks the letter reads.
It is also mentioned in the letter that “We are writing this letter-petition on behalf of about two million Advocates of the country, their staff and families. We must make it ample clear that we do not want any special treatment in the matter of medical attention as compared to other sections of the society, but, a graceful response from the concerned Official machinery, so that there is some mitigation in the miseries, so that there is some mitigation in the miseries and sufferings of the effected lawyers and their family members. The Advocates though not the special citizens are important part of the society and front-line workers and stakeholders in the matter of dispensation of justice, like judges.
It is further mentioned in the letter that thousands of Advocates and their family members and staff have died and continue to be in the grip of the deadly pandemic, but there is none to respond to their sufferings and attend their calls.
There is facilities in District and Taluka level, no sufficient ambulances are available nor are there sufficient oxygen beds in hospitals. Ventilators are like a dream for the States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal.
Law Courts, Schools and Colleges are the main centres of gatherings in most of the District Headquarters. The Advocates and Judicial officers therefore permanently reside at the places where the Law Courts are situated.
As India Live in Villages and 80% of lawyers and their families lives in Districts and Taluka headquarters. Therefore, it is inevitable to think about the lawyers residing in remote places also.
The Bar Council of India is receiving several complaints on daily basis where Advocates their families and staff are most helpless and neglected during the current spell of pandemic.
During the last 14-15 months no official machinery has thought about the common advocates, who are officers of the Court. Therefore, we are making the humble request to appoint NODAL-OFFICERS at all level. These nodal officers should be from among the Higher Judicial officers.
The lawyers may call their respective Bar Association(s)in case of need and/or to raise their grievances. Any ignorance, negligence or disobedience of orders/calls of Nodal officers may be treated as gross contempt and should also be treated to be gross misconduct on the part of the concerned Authorities.
The Supreme Court has already been passing the orders on day-to-day basis in the aftermath of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic we. Highly appreciate these drastic effective steps and lifesaving directions of our Supreme Court.
The Bar Council of India has urged the Supreme Court to pass orders/directions, thereby directing the Union and the State governments to provide sufficient beds and other Corona treatment facilities to the Advocates and judges their staff and families who are in the need at District and taluka level, High Courts and wherever necessary.
