Mayawati offers sops to lawyers

Lucknow, May 8: Offering sops to government counsels in the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Sunday, May 8 announced a hike in their retainership fee, besides increasing their other allowances.

"Fees of government counsels at the district level is being doubled by the state government and their exisiting allowances including drafting fees, library and typing allowances are also being increased," Mayawati said while addressing a convention of lawyers here.

She said that retainership fee of district government counsels has been hiked to Rs 6000 from Rs 3000 and their fee for appearance has been increased to Rs 1100 per working day from Rs 550 per working day.

Similarly, retainership fee of assistant/special counsels has been increased to Rs 4,800 from Rs 2,400 and their appearence allowance has been hiked to Rs 1000 per working day from Rs 500.

Mayawati said that fees and appearence allowance of deputy counsels has also been hiked to Rs 3,600 and Rs 850 respectively.

She said that as per the decision taken by the government, nominated counsel or Nyaya Mitra would get Rs 1000 per working day instead of Rs 500.

"An order to this effect has been issued by the state government," she said.

She said that the government cousels should ensure dedicated implementation of free legal aid scheme for BPL card holders and beneficiaries of Gareeb Arthik Madad Yojna announced on the anniversary of Dr B R ambedkar on April 14.

Mayawati said that the government had already announced that it will give Rs 60 crore the board of trustees for welfare of lawyers in the state and Rs 700 crore for construction of new building of the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court.

Speaking on the occasion chairman of UP State Advisory Council Satish Chandra Mishra assured the CM that lawyers would make honest effort for implementation of free legal aid scheme.

PTI