Kerala Government mandates 3k monthly stipend for lawyers under 30 yrs of age

The Kerala Government has issued an order that mandates a monthly stipend of Rs.3,000 for all lawyers under 30 years of age, with less than three years of practice and an annual income of less than 1 lakh rupees.

The order clarifies that the annual income limit of 1 lakh rupees is ‘not applicable' to those belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Said Government Order (GO) has been issued after taking into consideration the Kerala Advocates’ Stipend Rules notified by the Bar Council of Kerala in December last year, for payment of stipend up to Rs.5,000 per month to lawyers with less than three years of practice at the Bar and an annual income not exceeding 1 lakh rupees.

The Rules specify that the stipend may be paid from the Kerala Advocates’ Welfare Fund by the Trustee Committee which is empowered to do so under Section 9 of the Kerala Advocates' Welfare Fund Act, 1980.

After the aforementioned Rules were notified, the Trustee Committee had made some recommendations to the State Government, in light of which the new GO has been issued.

Earlier in March 2018, the State Government had issued an order approving the payment of Rs.5,000 per month as a stipend for junior lawyers. However, the same did not get implemented for over 3 years, citing lack of its proper implementation after the same was moved by a plea in the High Court.