Telangana High Court Provide financial assistance to all needy advocates

Hearing on two public interest litigations the High Court Bench Comprising of Justice Naveen Rao and justice Shameem Akhtar directed the Telangana State Advocates Welfare Trust to take applications from all needy advocates for giving financial assistance from the amount of Rs 25 crores sanctioned by the State government and also to extended for submission of applications through concern bar associations till May 22.

The Bench pointed out that restricting the extension of the benefit of financial assistance to advocates having a maximum of 10 years of practice is irrational, arbitrary and discriminatory and the guidelines to that extent have to be declared as not valid.

The respondent Trust is directed to extend the financial assistance to all the needy advocates without reference to a maximum of 10 years standing at the Bar. However, it is made clear that all other conditions prescribed in the guidelines are required to be satisfied to get the financial assistance, the bench added.

Further, since the last date for making such an application was May 16 and by which date the 10 years condition was in force, we deem it necessary to direct the respondent Trust to extend the time to receive the applications till May 22.

However, this extension is applicable only to those of those advocates who are otherwise in need of financial assistance and could not apply earlier because of the maximum 10 years standing at the Bar imposed in the guidelines, the bench said.

High Court Aid ailing seasonal fruit growers in Telangana

The High Court on Tuesday directed the State government to inform the strategy that has been worked out between the State and the Central government for transporting various seasonal fruits and vegetables in the State. Hearing on public interest litigation filed by Rtd veterinary doctor K Narayana Reddy, from Nirmal bringing forth the plight and apathy of the fruit growers from the State during the lockdown.

Counsel for the petitioner Chinnola Naresh Reddy informed the Bench that the fruit growers in the State are not able to find a marketplace to sell various seasonal fruits during this lockdown. The transportation has come to a grinding halt, adding woes to the already existing woes of the fruit growers as they are not able to export the seasonal fruits to other States and prayed the court to intervene and rescue these farmers.

The Bench asked the State government what steps has been taken to ensure that yield reaped by the fruit growers in this season are transported to the other states, as only 4 to 5% of the produce is being consumed within the state and exporting the remaining yield of various seasonal fruits to other states.

The Advocate General informed the Bench that the State government has taken initiative in setting up more cold storages units in the State. The matter has been adjourned to May 22.