After Jharkhand HC Nudge, State Govt Announces Advocates' Health Insurance Scheme, CM Hemant Soren Set To Inaugurate On May 3

The Jharkhand government has announced the launch of the Advocates Health Insurance Scheme under the Rajyakarmi Swasthya Bima Yojana on May 3 which will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Hemant Soren. 

As per an April 17 letter issued by the Jharkhand Advocates' Welfare Fund Trustee Committee the event will take place at Harivansh Tana Bhagat Indoor Stadium, Hotwar in Ranchi. The Chief Minister will also be distributing Advocate Health Insurance Cards to the advocates.

This scheme will be covering nearly 27,000 advocates and their families registered under the Jharkhand Advocates' Welfare Fund Trustee Committee and their family members.

According to the letter the health insurance benefits have been extended to advocates under Clause 3(III) Category C of the Department of Health, Medical Education, and Family Welfare's Resolution 185 (13) dated July 31, 2023 and Resolution 13 (13) dated January 24 this year. The scheme will become effective from May 1.

The Committee has urged all Advocate Associations, District Bar Associations, and Sub-Divisional Bar Associations across Jharkhand to participate in large numbers along with their families in the event. 

The letter mentions that, “Since Advocate Health Insurance Scheme is beneficial for advocates and their families and is implemented in the interest of advocates. Therefore, to make this health insurance scheme a success, please join this event in maximum numbers along with your Advocate Association members and their families.”

The move comes following directions issued by the Jharkhand High Court in W.P. (PIL) No. 1956 of 2021 (Bidesh Kumar Dan vs Union of India & Others).

In its order dated 10.07.2024, the Court had observed, “It appears that though the lawyers' community is helping the people by discharging his duty in dispensation of justice but they are not being given justice either by the State or by the Union. Therefore, the time has come that the lawyers should be protected by providing insurance benefit like health and other benefits, which is admissible under the law.”

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Dr. B.R. Sarangi and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad had also observed, “It is the sensitive issue so far it relates to the lawyers' community of the State of Jharkhand is concerned. It appears that though the lawyers' community is helping the people by discharging his duty in dispensation of justice but they are not being given justice either by the State or by the Union. Therefore, the time has come that the lawyers should be protected by providing insurance benefit like health and other benefits, which is admissible under the law.”

Thereafter the Jharkhand government, in a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren on September 6, 2024, approved a Rs 5 lakh medical insurance cover for over 30,000 lawyers across the state.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved two more key schemes aimed at supporting lawyers. Advocates aged 65 years and above will now receive a monthly pension of Rs 14,000, while newly enrolled advocates will be provided a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000 for the first five years of their practice.