Government urged to sanction pension scheme

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Bar Association, here, has urged the State Government to sanction a pension scheme for senior advocates who leave the profession. The Association office-bearers told reporters here on Wednesday that they would also demand stipend for junior advocates. A mass petition, signed by 2,000 advocates, will be submitted to the Chief Minister and Law Minister in this regard, they said. “Advocates is one of the few professionals who are denied a pension scheme,” said Association president C K Sitaram. “The government should grant a pension of Rs 5,000 for advocates who leave the profession after a minimum of 30 years of service,” he said.“The number of youths who enrol into the profession is increasing every year and many senior advocates have around 15 juniors.  As it is impossible for the senior to give decent payment to all of them, the government should grant a reasonable stipend to them,” he said. HC Bench stir: “The Association has not ended the stir for establishing a High Court Bench in the capital,” Sitaram said. The Association will strengthen the agitation after the bicentenary celebrations, he said. He said that no political party in the state made a sincere effort for the cause. “However, the establishment of the CBI court and SAT in the capital can be viewed as the after-effects of the HC Bench stir,” he said.