Banpur Lawyers Welcome Hike in Retirement Benefits to ₹9 Lakh ;

Bar Association Thanks Chief Minister, Law Minister; Seeks Early Implementation of Welfare Measures, Operationalisation of ADJ Court.

Dillip Kumar Pattnaik

KHORDHA, NOVEMBER 6: The Odisha Government’s decision to enhance retirement assistance for advocates to ₹9 lakh from the Advocates’ Welfare Fund has been welcomed by the legal fraternity, with the Banpur Bar Association expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan and the State Government for fulfilling a long-standing demand of the Odisha State Bar Council.
Celebrating the announcement, a large number of advocates, led by Bar Association president Jagannath Bhol, gathered near the entrance of the Banpur court premises and exchanged sweets to mark the occasion. The association also acknowledged the role of Advocate General Pitambar Acharya in facilitating the decision.

Addressing the gathering, Bhol described the enhancement as a significant step towards ensuring financial security and dignity for advocates after years of service in the legal profession. He appreciated the efforts of Law Minister and local MLA Prithviraj Harichandan for taking up issues concerning the welfare and professional interests of advocates.
While welcoming the government’s decision, the association urged the State Government to expedite the implementation of three other key demands raised by the Odisha State Bar Council. These include extending the benefits of the Madhubabu Health Insurance Scheme to advocates, establishing an Advocates’ Academy and enacting an Advocates’ Protection Act to strengthen the safety and security of members of the legal fraternity.
The Banpur Bar Association also reiterated its demand for the early operationalisation of the proposed Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ) Court at Banpur. Although a notification for its establishment has already been issued following the initiative of the Law Minister, the association stressed the need for expeditious administrative and infrastructural arrangements to make the court fully functional on a permanent basis by the end of this year.
The operationalisation of the ADJ Court at Banpur, the advocates pointed out, would substantially reduce the hardships faced by litigants in the region and facilitate easier access to higher-level judicial services without having to travel to distant locations.
Among those present on the occasion were executive committee member Sudarshan Jali, former secretary Ranjan Kumar Bedamatta and senior advocates Sandeep Mahapatra, Sanjay Ranasingh, Jalandhar Pradhan, Prabhat Pattajoshi, Sunil Mahapatra, Ajit Swain, Sitaram Agrawal, Baikuntha Nath Pradhan, Vivekananda Panda, Padmaja Patnaik, Pradosh Kumar Pradhan, Santosh Mahapatra, Bhagirathi Biswal, Anil Barik, Ramachandra Palai and Ajit Barik, besides several other members of the association.