Kerala High Court Seeks State's Response On Plea Against Discontinuation Of Annual Grant To OBC Junior Advocates

A plea has been moved in Kerala High Court against the non-issuance of notification to claim annual grant of twelve thousand rupees to the junior advocates belonging to the OBC category under the OBC Advocate Grant Scheme.

Justice Devan Ramachandran has sought response from the Government of Kerala and the Directorate of Backward Classes Development Department regarding the discontinuation of the scheme.

The petitioner is an advocate who was enrolled in the year 2022 and was otherwise eligible to apply for the OBC Advocate Grant Scheme. As per the scheme, an amount of twelve thousand rupees per year will be given to junior advocates who are from OBC Category for purchasing law books, gown and uniform. Once selected for the scheme, an advocate will receive an annual grant for three consecutive years. The Government of Kerala under the Backward Classes Development Department had started this scheme in the year 2012-13 for the benefit of Junior Advocates from the OBC Category.

The Petition states that each year the Directorate of Backward Classes Development Department issues notifications inviting applications for the OBC Advocate Grant Scheme. The last notification was issued in the year 2021 and thereafter, no notifications were issued.

Petitioner states non-issuance of notification since 2021 has caused great inconvenience to the petitioner and other junior advocates who were otherwise eligible to apply for the scheme. The plea adds that unequal treatment to similarly situated persons also violates Article 14 of the Constitution of India.

“Non-issuance of notifications for inviting applications from the advocates enrolled after 30/06/2021 is grossly irregular and against the basic principles of administrative law and jurisprudence. The fundamental rights of the petitioner as well as the other advocates enrolled after 30/06/2021 has been infringed as has been their legitimate expectations.”, the plea stated.

The petitioner was represented by Advocates Ajmal A, Dhanush CA and Rinshad TP.

Case title: Adv. Priyanka Sharma M R v State Of Kerala & Anr.

Case number: WP(C) 31882/2023