Advocate insurance scheme implemented without approval: JSBC

Ranchi: Even though the Jharkhand State Bar Council (JSBC) has welcomed the Mukhyamantri Adhivakta Swasthya Bima Yojna it has claimed that implementing the scheme without its approval was against the rules.
In a letter sent to Avinash Kumar, principal secretary to CM Hemant Soren, last Thursday, the JSBC secretary in-charge Santosh Kumar Singh has claimed that according to Jharkhand Advocates Welfare Fund Act, a welfare scheme for the advocates has to be approved by the council.
He further said that in an emergent meeting held by JSBC it was discussed that it did not receive any specific communication from the Advocates Welfare Fund Trustee Committee for approval of the health insurance scheme. The committee has not even provided the list of beneficiaries to the council, he alleged.
The council has stated that the trustee committee should ensure that advocates not filling up their verification forms, defaulters and deceased apart from persons whose licenses have been either surrendered or suspended and those elevated to the bench are not included in the list. JSBC chairman Rajindra Krishna on Saturday said, "The issue raised in the letter are relevant at present as well."
When contacted, advocate general Rajiv Ranjan who is also chairman of the trustee committee said that he would not reply to the allegations adding that JSBC should be asked why several members from the organization were present during the scheme launch when it has issues.