Ranchi: The Jharkhand Cabinet has approved a series of welfare measures for the state’s legal professionals, including a substantial medical insurance cover. In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the Cabinet sanctioned a Rs 5 lakh medical insurance policy for over 30,000 lawyers across Jharkhand.
The Cabinet also approved a monthly pension of Rs 14,000 for lawyers aged 65 and above. Additionally, newly enrolled advocates will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000, a significant increase from the previous amount.
As part of these new measures, the Jharkhand Advocate Welfare Fund Trustee Committee will be allocated Rs 1.6 crore for the financial year 2024-25. This fund will support pensions of Rs 7,000 per month for eligible senior advocates who have surrendered their licenses.
Furthermore, the Cabinet approved a grant of Rs 1.5 crore to increase the stipend for new advocates from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 per month for the first three years.
The state government will also contribute Rs 9 crore to ensure that registered advocates benefit from the Jharkhand State Health Insurance Scheme, covering an annual premium of Rs 6,000 per advocate. This grant aims to extend health insurance coverage to legal professionals, mirroring benefits provided to state employees and retirees.
Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan, who played a pivotal role in securing these benefits, praised Chief Minister Soren for fulfilling commitments made during a meeting with lawyers last year. Ranjan highlighted that Jharkhand is the first state in the country to implement such comprehensive welfare measures for its legal community, setting a precedent for others.
