November 01, 2001
‘7’ ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT ENFORCED FROM TODAYThe Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 2001, passed during the Monsoon Session of Parliament ending August 31, 2001, has come into force from today. Earlier, on September 26, 2001, the Government issued a notification under Sub-Section (3) of Section 1 of the Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 2001, appointing November 1 as the date on which the Act comes into force.
The Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 2001, has been enacted to provide social security in the form of financial assistance to junior lawyers and welfare schemes for indigent or disable advocates, which has long been a matter of concern for the legal fraternity.
The Act provides for membership to the Fund for all practising advocates on payment of an application fee and annual subscription. The Fund shall vest in, and be held and applied by, the Trustee Committee established by the appropriate Government. The Fund will, inter alia, be used for making ex-gratia grant to a member of the Fund in case of a serious health problem, payment of a fixed amount on cessation of practice and in case of death of a member, to his nominee or legal heir, medical and educational facilities for the members and their dependents, purchase of books and for common facilities for advocates. The income incurred to the Fund shall be exempt from income tax.