Indore, October 10 - In a significant move highlighting the struggles of senior advocates, the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday directed the State Bar Council to consider framing a welfare scheme for lawyers nearing the end of their careers.
The petition, filed by advocate Rajendra Shrivastava, urged the court to direct the Bar Council to introduce pension and family pension benefits for advocates who have practiced for over 35 to 40 years.
"Advocates contribute immensely to the justice system, yet when they age, they face financial uncertainty with no institutional support," Shrivastava submitted, appearing in person.
Citing the Bihar State Bar Council Advocates’ Welfare Scheme of 2012 as an example, the petitioner placed a copy before the bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf.
The bench observed, "The proposal deserves consideration in the interest of the legal fraternity."
Accepting the plea, the court issued notices to the respondents and directed the Madhya Pradesh Bar Council to examine the feasibility of introducing a similar welfare scheme.
The bench has transferred the matter to the Principal Seat at Jabalpur, listing it for further hearing on November 12, 2025.
Case Title: Rajendra Shrivastava vs Chief Secretary, M.P. Govt., Vidhyanchal and Others
Case Number: Writ Petition (PIL) No. 26638 of 2025