Mayawati announces sops worth over Rs 600 crore for lawyers

Mayawati announces sops worth over Rs 600 crore for lawyers

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Thursday sanctioned funds worth Rs 610 crore for benefit of the state's lawyers, including Rs 500 crore for a new building of Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court.

"Previous governments had announced a host of schemes for lawyers, but had done nothing in reality and no action was taken on these announcements," Mayawati said addressing a function in Lucknow on the occasion of the 120th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar.

She said the issue of a new building of the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court has been pending for a long time and her government has decided to provide Rs 500 crore for it.

"The Centre has not released its share so far, but the state government has decided to release its 70 per cent share. Additional funds will also be provided if required," she claimed.

Mayawati said her government has also decided to sanction Rs 60 crore for the board of trustees for insurance of lawyers, pension to their widows, chambers and computers in bar councils.

"An additional fund of Rs 50 crore will be sanctioned for the library facility for judges and to meet their other requirements in consultation with the Chief Justice," she said.

The Chief Minister said free legal facilities would be provided to BPL card holders and beneficiaries of Mukhyamantri Mahamaya Gareeb Arthik Madad Yojna to contest cases except those in which the government is a party.