CUTTACK: The Orissa State Bar Council (OSBC) has urged the state government to review its decision to hike the maximum financial assistance in case of an advocate’s death provided under the State Advocates’ Welfare Fund to Rs 6.30 lakh.
The OSBC demanded a proportionately higher maximum financial assistance of Rs 9 lakh in a resolution passed at an emergency meeting presided by chairman Sitanshu Mohan Dwibedy here on Friday.
As per the resolution, the state government has been requested to reconsider its decision and increase within 15 days the maximum retirement-cum-death benefit for advocates to Rs 9 lakh, an OSBC press release said.
The State Advocates’ Welfare Fund is aimed at providing social security and financial support to members of the legal profession and their dependents. The financial assistance under the scheme was last revised to Rs 4.5 lakh in 2021.
On June 22, 2026, the state government approved a 40 per cent increase in financial assistance. Under the revised structure, the next of kin of an advocate, who has completed 30 years of practice, will receive Rs 6.30 lakh upon retirement. In the event of their death, the same amount will be paid to their nearest family member. This will be the maximum assistance admissible under the welfare fund, the state government had announced.
However, the OSBC has held that the enhanced maximum financial assistance was not proportionate to the state government’s annual grant of `10 crore to the State Advocates’ Welfare Fund since 2024.
When the annual grant was increased from `3 crore since 2016-17 to `5 crore in 2020-21, maximum retirement-cum-death benefit was increased from `2.70 lakh to `4.5 lakh. Accordingly, when the annual grant was increased from `5 crore to `10 crore in 2024, the maximum retirement-cum-death benefit ought to have been increased to `9 lakh, the OSBC press release said.
The state government had started providing annual grant to the State Advocates’ Welfare Fund with `1 crore in 2014-15.
The OSBC has also demanded health insurance coverage of `10 lakh to each practising lawyer under Madhu Babu Health Insurance and promulgation of Advocates’ Protection Act, ensuring professional security to practising advocates in the state.