LexThe Himachal Pradesh Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 1996
Himachal Pradesh · state statute
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this actTHE HIMHAL PRADESH ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Sections:
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
2. Definitions.
3. Advocates Welfare Fund.
4. Constitution of Trustee Committee.
5. Disqualification and removal of nominated members of Trustee
Committee.
6. Resignation by Nominated Members of Trustee Committee and
filling up of casual vacancies.
7. Acts of Trustee Committee not to be invalidated by vacancy,
defect etc.
8. Vesting and application of Funds.
9. Functions of Trustee Committee.
10. Power to give directions.
11. Funds, borrowing and investments.
12. Powers and duties of Secretary.
13. Transfer of certain money to the Fund.
14. Recognition and registration of Bar Associations.
15. Duties of Bar Associations.
16. Cancellation of recognition and registration of Bar Association.
17. Membership of the Fund.
18. Payment of amount on cessation of practice.
19. Restriction on alienation, attachment etc. of interest of members
in the Fund.
20. Group Life Insurance for members and other benefits.
21. Ex-gratia grant to a member of the Fund.
22. Welfare Scheme for indigent and disabled advocates.
23. Meetings of Trustee Committee.
24. Travelling and daily allowances to members of Trustee
Committee.
25. Appeal against decisions of Trustee Committee.
2 H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996
26. Printing and distribution of Advocates Welfare Fund stamps by
Bar Council.
27. Vakalatnama to bear stamps.
28. Protection of action taken in good faith.
29. Bar of jurisdiction of civil courts.
30. Power to summon witnesses and take evidence.
31. Power to make rules.
32. Power to amend Schedule.
33. Laying of rules and notifications.
The Schedule
_________
THE HIMACHAL PRADESH ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT,
1996
(Act No. 14 of 1996) 1
(Received the assent of the President on 23 rd November, 1996 and
was published both in Hindi and English in R.H.P. E xtra,, dated the 11 th
December, 1996 at p. 5557-5585).
Amended, repealed or otherwise affected by,-
(i) H.P. Act No. 18 of 2004
2, assented to by the Governor on the 24 th
September, 2004, published both in Hindi and Englis h in R.H.P.
Extra., dated 8.10.2004, pages 2083-2088.
(ii) H.P. Act No. 15 of 2008 3, assented to the Governor on 30 th
September, 2008, published both in Hindi and Englis h in R.H.P.,
dated 4.10.2008, pages 4147-4150.
(iii) H.P. Act No. 3 of 2012 4,) assented to by the Governor on 18 th
January, 2012, published both in Hindi and English in R.H.P. on
the 28 th January, 2012 at pages 5329-5330.
(iv) H.P. Act No. 7 of 2015 5, assented to by the Governor on the 18 th
January, 2015, published both in Hindi and English in R. H. P. on
the 23rd January, 2015 at pages 5758-5759.
1 . Passed in Hindi by the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. For Statement of
Objects and Reasons see R.H.P. Extra., dated 7.3.1996, p. 894-908.
2 . Passed in Hindi by the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. For Statement of
Objects and Reasons see R.H.P. Extra., dated 24.6.2004, p. 983-988.
3 . Passed in Hindi by the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. For Statement of
Objects and Reasons see R.H.P., dated 4.9.2008, p. 3589-3595.
4 . Passed in Hindi by the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. For Statement of
Objects and Reasons see R.H.P.22.12.2011, p. 4732 &4733.
5. Passed in Hindi by the Vidhan Sabha. For Stateme nt of Objects and Reasons see
R.H.P. dated 11.12.2014, p.4938 & 4939.
H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996 3
An Act to provide for the constitution of a welfare fund for the benefit of
Advocates on cessation of practice in the State of Himachal
Pradesh and for matters connected therewith or inci dental
thereto.
B
E it enacted by the Legislative assembly of Himachal Pradesh in the
Forty-seventh Year of the republic of India as follows:-
1. Short title, extent and commencement.-(1) This Act may be
called the Himachal Pradesh Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 1996.
(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Himacha l Pradesh.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the St ate Government
may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
2. Definitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) “Advocate” means a person whose name has been e ntered
in the State roll of advocates prepared and maintai ned by
the Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh State under section 17
of the Advocates Act, 1961 (25 of 1961) and who is a
member of a Bar Association;
(b) “Bar Association” means an association of advoc ates
recognized and registered by the Bar Council under section
14;
(c) “Bar Council” means a Bar Council of Himachal P radesh
constituted under section 3 of the Advocates Act, 1 961 (25
of 1961);
(d) “cessation of practice” means removal of the na me of an
advocate from the State roll maintained by the Bar Council
on account of his death or retirement or on account of his
voluntary cessation of practice on the ground of pe rmanent
physical or mental disability;
(e) “dependents” means the spouse, parent and child ren
dependent on the member of the Fund and includes hi s
widowed daughter and major children who suffer from
physical disability or insanity and who are maintai ned by
him or such of them who survive on his death;
(f) “Fund” means the Himachal Pradesh Advocates Wel fare
Fund constituted under section 3;
(g) “Government” means the Government of Himachal
Pradesh;
(h) “Member of the Fund’ means an advocate admitted to the
benefits of the Fund and continuing to be a member thereof
under the provisions of the Act;
4 H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996
(i) “prescribed” means prescribed by the Bar Counci l by rules
made under this Act;
(j) “retirement” means stoppage of practice as an a dvocate,
communicated and recorded by the Bar Council;
(k) “Stamp” means the Himachal Pradesh Advocates We lfare
Fund Stamp printed and distributed under section 26;
(l) “State” means the State of Himachal Pradesh;
(m) “suspension of practice” means voluntary suspen sion of
practice as an advocate or suspension by the Bar Co uncil
for misconduct;
(n) “Trustee Committee” means the Himachal Pradesh
Advocates Welfare Fund Trustee Committee constitute d
under section 4;
(o) “Vakalatnama” includes memorandum of appearance or
any other document by which an advocate is empowere d to
appear or plead before any court, tribunal or insti tution or
other authority legally authorized by any law to ta ke
evidence or to adjudicate or decide any dispute.
3. Advocates Welfare Fund.- (1) The Government shall constitute
a Fund called the Himachal Pradesh Advocates Welfare Fund.
(2) There shall be credited to the Fund-
(a) an initial amount of ten thousand rupees or such ot her higher
amount as the Bar Council may credited to this Fund at the
time of its constitution;
(b) the amount paid by the Bar Council under section 13;
(c) any further contribution that may be made by the Ba r
Council;
(d) any voluntary donation or contribution made to the Fund by
the Bar Council of India, any Bar Association, any Advocates
Association or other association or institution or any advocate
or other person;
(e) any sum borrowed under section 11;
(f) all sums collected under section 17;
(g) all sums received from the Life Insurance Corporati on of
India on the death of a member of the Fund under a Group
Insurance Policy;
(h) any profit or dividend or refund received from the Life
Insurance Corporation of India in respect of policies of Group
Insurance of the members of the Fund;
H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996 5
(i) any interest or dividend or other return on any inv estment
made of any part of the Fund; and
(j) all sums collected by way of sale of stamps under section 27.
(3) The sums specified in sub-section (2) shall be paid to, or collected
by, such agencies, at such intervals and in such ma nner, and the accounts of
Fund shall be maintained in such manner, as may be prescribed.
4. Constitution of Trustee Committee.- (1) The State Government
shall, by notification in the Official Gazette, con stitute with effect from such
date 1 as may be specified therein a Committee to be call ed “the Himachal
Pradesh Advocates Welfare Fund Trustee Committee”.
(2) The Trustee Committee shall be a body corporate by the aforesaid
name having perpetual succession and a common seal with power to acquire,
hold and dispose of property and to enter into cont ract and shall by the said
name, sue and be sued.
(3) The Trustee Committee shall consist of-
(a) the Chairman of the Bar Council of Himachal Pradesh who
shall be the Chairman of the Trustee Committee, Ex-officio;
(b) the Advocate General of the State of Himachal Prade sh, Ex-
officio Member;
(c) the Secretary to the Government in Law Department, Ex-
officio Member;
(d) two members nominated by the Government;
(e) three members of the Bar Council nominated by it; and
(f) the Secretary of the Bar Council who shall be the Secretary of
the Trustee Committee, Ex-officio.
(4) A member nominated by the Government under cla use (d) and
by the Bar Council under clause (e) of sub-section (3) shall hold office for a
term of three years or in the case of members menti oned under clause (e) of
sub-section (3) upto duration of his membership in the Bar Council,
whichever is less, or till such member resigns his office and his resignation is
accepted by the Chairman.
5. Disqualification and removal of nominated membe rs of
Trustee Committee.- (1) A person shall be disqualified for being nomina ted,
under clauses (d) and (e) of sub-section (3) of sec tion 4, for being a member
of the Trustee Committee, if he-
(a) becomes of unsound mind; or
(b) is adjudged insolvent; or
1. “HP Advocate Welfare Fund Trustee Committee” cons tituted vide this Department
Notification No. LLR-E(9)19/96-Leg( Part-II) , dated 3.5.2006.
6 H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996
(c) is absent without leave of the Trustee Committee fo r more than
three consecutive meetings of the Trustee Committee:
Provided that the member ceasing to hold office under this clause may
be allowed to continue as such member by the Truste e Committee, if such
member makes an application for the condonation of the absence; or
(d) is a defaulter to the Fund (in case he is a member of the Fund);
(e) is convicted by a criminal court for an offence inv olving moral
turpitude, unless such conviction has been set-aside; or
(f) being a person nominated by the Bar Council-
(i) ceases to practise as an advocate under the Adv ocates Act,
1961 (25 of 1961); or
(ii) ceases to be member of the Bar Council; or
(iii) is debarred from practicing on the ground of professional
misconduct.
(2) The Government may remove any member who is or has become
disqualified under sub-section (1) from the members hip of the Trustee
Committee:
Provided that no order removing any member nominate d by the Bar
Council shall be passed unless the member and the B ar Council have been
given an opportunity of being heard.
6. Resignation by nominated members of Trustee Comm ittee and
filling up of casual vacancies.- (1) Any member nominated under clauses (d)
and (e) of sub-section (3) of section 4 may resign his office by giving three
months notice in writing to the Government or the B ar Council, as the case
may be, and on such resignation being accepted by t he Government or as the
case may be, by the Bar Council, he shall be deemed to have vacated his
office.
(2) A casual vacancy in the office of a member nomi nated under
clause (d) or clause (e) of sub-section (3) of sect ion 4 occurring on account of
death, resignation and removal of a member under sub-section (2) of section 5
may be filled up, as soon as it may be convenient, by nomination of any
person as a member thereto by the Government or the Bar Council, as the case
may be, and a person so nominated to fill such vaca ncy shall hold office for
the remainder of the term of office of the member i n whose place he is
nominated.
7. Acts of Trustee Committee not to be invalidated by vacancy,
defect etc.- No act done or no proceeding taken by or under this Act by the
Trustee Committee shall be invalidated merely by reason of-
(a) any vacancy or defect in the constitution of the Committee ;or
(b) any defect or irregularity in the nomination of any person as a
member thereof; or
H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996 7
(c) any defect or irregularity in such act or proceedin g not
affecting the merits of the case.
8. Vesting and application of Fund.- The Fund shall vest in, and be
held and applied by, the Trustee Committee subject to the provisions, and for
the purposes, of this Act.
9. Functions of Trustee Committee.- (1) The Trustee Committee
shall administer the Fund.
(2) In the administration of the Fund, the trustee Committee shall,
subject to the provisions of this Act, and the rules made thereunder,-
(a) hold the amounts and assets belonging to the Fund trust;
(b) receive applications for admission or re-admission to the Fund and
dispose of such applications within ninety days fro m the date of
receipt thereof;
(c) receive applications from the members of the Fund, their nominees
or legal heirs, as the case may be, for payment out of the Fund, and
conduct such enquiry as it deems necessary for the disposal of such
applications and dispose of the applications within ninety days
from the date of receipt thereof;
(d) record in the minutes book of the trustee committee , its decisions
on the applications;
(e) pay to the applicants amounts at the rates specifie d in the
Schedule;
(f) send such periodicals and annual reports, as may be prescribed, to
the government and the Bar council;
(g) communicate to the applicants, by post under certificate of posting,
the decisions of the Trustee committee in respect o f applications
for admissions or re-admissions to the Fund or clai ms to the
benefit of the fund;
(h) appoint such officers and servants as it may think necessary for
carrying out the purposes of this Act on such terms and conditions
as may be prescribed; and
(i) do such other acts as are, or may be, required to b e done by it
under this Act and the rules made thereunder.
10. Power to give directions.- The Bar Council or the Trustee
Committee may give to the Advocates Association or Bar Association such
directions as, in its opinion, are necessary or exp edient for carrying out the
purposes of this Act.
11. Funds, borrowing and investments.- (1) The Trustee Committee
may, with the prior approval of the Government and the Bar Council, borrow,
from time to time, any sum required for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
8 H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996
(2) The Trustee Committee shall deposit all moneys and receipts
forming part of the Fund in any Scheduled Bank or i nvest the same in any
units issued by the Unit Trust of India or any Nati onal Savings Certificates
issued by any Post Office or in loans floated by an y Corporation owned or
controlled by the Central Government or the State Government or in securities
or in loans floated by the Central Government or th e State Government or in
any other manner as the Bar Council may, from time to time, direct with the
prior approval of the Government.
(3) All amounts due and payable under this Act and all expenditure
related to the management and administration of the Fund shall be paid out of
the Fund.
(4) The accounts of the Trustee Committee shall be audited annually
by a Chattered Accountant approved by the Bar Council.
(5) The accounts of the Trustee Committee as certified by the auditor,
together with the audit report thereon, shall be fo rwarded to the Bar Council
and the Government by the Trustee Committee and Bar Council may issue
such directions as it deems fit to the Trustee Committee in respect thereof.
(6) The Trustee Committee shall comply with the directions issued by
the Bar Council under sub-section (5).
12. Powers and duties of Secretary.- The Secretary of the Trustee
Committee shall-
(a) be the chief executive authority of Trustee Committ ee and
responsible for carrying out its decisions;
(b) represent the Trustee Committee in all suits and proceedings for
and against the Trustee Committee;
(c) authenticate by his signature all decisions and ins tructions of
the Trustee Committee;
(d) operate the bank accounts of the Trustee Committee jointly with
the Chairman or his nominee;
(e) convene meetings of the Trustee Committee and prepa re its
minutes;
(f) attend the meeting of the Trustee Committee with al l the
necessary records and information;
(g) maintain such forms, registers and other records as may be
prescribed from time to time and do all corresponde nce relating
to the Trustee Committee;
(h) prepare an annual statement of business transacted by the
Trustee Committee during such financial year;
(i) inspect and verify periodically the accounts and re gisters of the
Bar Associations regarding the sale of stamps and o ther matters
connected therewith; and
H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996 9
(j) do such other acts as may be directed by the Truste e committee
and the Bar Council.
13. Transfer of certain money to the Fund.- The Bar Council shall
pay to the Fund annually an amount equal to ten percent of the enrolment fees
realized by it.
14. Recognition and registration of Bar Association s.-(1) All
associations of advocates known by any name, functi oning in any part of the
State may, before a date to be notified or before such extended date as may be
notified by the Bar Council in this behalf, apply t o the Bar Council in such
form and manner as may be prescribed for recognitio n and registration. Any
association of advocates formed after the date of c ommencement of this Act
may at any time thereafter likewise apply to the Ba r Council for recognition
and registration.
(2) Every application for recognition and registrat ion shall be
accompanied by the rules or bye-laws of the association, names and addresses
of the office-bearers of the association and an upto-date list of the members of
the association showing the name, address, age, dat e of enrolment and the
ordinary place of practice of each member.
(3) The Bar Council may, after such enquiry as it d eems necessary,
recognize the association and issue a certificate of registration in such form as
may be prescribed.
(4) The decision of the Bar Council regarding the r ecognition and
registration of a Bar Association shall be final.
15. Duties of Bar Association.- (1) Every Bar Association shall on or
before the 15
th April of every year, furnish to the Bar Council an d the Trustee
Committee a list of its members as on the 31 st March of that year.
(2) Every Bar Association shall inform the Bar Coun cil and Trustee
Committee of -
(a) any change in its office-bearers or in its membersh ip,
including admissions and re-admissions, within thirty days of
such change;
(b) the death or other cessation of practice or volunta ry
suspension of practice of any of its members within thirty
days from the date of occurrence thereof; and
(c) such other matters as may be required by the Bar Co uncil
from time to time.
(3) Every Advocates Association and every Bar Assoc iation shall
carry out the directions given to it under section 10 by the Bar Council or the
Trustee Committee, as the case may be.
16. Cancellation of recognition and registration of Bar
Association.-Where the Advocates Association or the Bar Association fails to
discharge any of the duties imposed under section 15, or fails to carry out the
10 H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996
directions given under section 10, the Bar Council may, for reasons to be
recorded by order, cancel the recognition and registration of such Association:
Provided that no order canceling the recognition an d registration of
any Advocates Association or the Bar Association sh all be passed unless the
Advocates Association or the Bar Association has be en given a reasonable
opportunity of being heard.
17. Membership of the Fund.- (1) Any advocate practicing in or
before any court, tribunal or authority in the Stat e and being a member of a
Bar Association or an Advocates Association recogni zed by the Bar Council
may apply to the Trustee Committee for admission as a member of the Fund
in such form as may be prescribed.
(2) On receipt of an application under sub-section (1), the Trustee
Committee shall make enquiry as it deems fit and either admit the applicant to
the Fund or, for reasons to be recorded in writing, reject the application :
Provided that no order rejecting an application sha ll be passed unless
the applicant has been given an opportunity of being heard.
(3) Every applicant shall, alongwith the applicatio n, pay, in the
prescribed manner, an application fee-
(i) in the case of an applicant who, on the date of application has
practised for a period of less than ten years, rupe es one
hundred; and
(ii) in the case of an applicant who, on the date o f application has
practised for a period of ten years or more, rupees two hundred :
Provided that when an application is rejected under sub-section (2)
the application fee paid by the applicant shall be refunded to him.
1[(4) Every member of the Fund shall pay an annual s ubscription to
the Fund on or before the 30th June every year at the following rates, namely:-
Where the standing of the Advocate Two hundred rupees.
at the Bar is less than ten years.
Where the standing of the Advocate Four hundred r upees:
at the Bar is ten years or more
2[Provided that a Member of the Fund may at his optio n make
one time payment of life subscription of five thous and rupees at the
time of admission or, thereafter, may opt at any ti me for life
membership by making payment of the balance amount so as to credit
to his account total sum of five thousand rupees.]
1. Sub-section (4) subs. vide Act No. 15 of 2008 (sec. 2).
2. Subs. for the existing first and second provisos vide Act No. 7 of 2015.
H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996 11
(5) Any member of the Fund who fails to pay the ann ual subscription
for any year on or before the 1[30th June] of that year shall be liable to be
removed from the membership of the Fund.
(6) A person removed from the membership of the Fun d under sub-
section (5) may be re-admitted to the Fund on payme nt of the arrears with the
re-admission fee of twenty five rupees within six m onths from the date of
removal.
(7) Every member of the Fund Shall, at the time of admission to the
membership of the Fund, make nomination conferring on one or more of his
dependents the right to receive, in the event of hi s death, any amount payable
to the member under this Act.
(8) If a member of the Fund nominates more than one person under
sub-section (7), he shall specify in the nomination the amount or share
payable to each of the nominees.
(9) A member of the Fund, may, at any time, cancel a nomination by
sending a notice in writing to the Trustee Committe e; provided that he shall,
along with such notice, send a fresh nomination.
(10) Every member of the Fund who has requested the removal of his
name from the State roll under section 26-A of the Advocates Act, 1961 (25
of 1961) or who voluntarily suspends practice shall within fifteen days of such
request or suspension, intimate that fact to the Tr ustee Committee and if any
member of the Fund fails to do so without sufficien t reasons, the Trustee
Committee may reduce, in accordance with such princ iples as may be
prescribed, the amount payable to that member under this Act.
18. Payment of amount on cessation of practice.- (1) Every
advocate who has been a member of the Fund for a pe riod of not less than ten
years shall, on his cessation of practice, be paid an amount at the rate
specified in the Schedule :
Provided that where the Trustee Committee is satisfied that a member
of the Fund ceases to practice within a period of ten years from the date of his
admission as member of the Fund as a result of his death or of any permanent
physical or mental disability, the Trustee Committe e may pay the member of
the Fund or his nominee, as the case may be, an amount at the rate specified in
the Schedule.
Explanation. -The period during which the member of the Fund
remained suspended shall not be considered for the purpose of counting the
year of standing.
(2) Where a member of the Fund dies, before receiv ing the amount
payable under sub-section (1), his nominee or legal heir, as the case may be,
shall be paid the amount payable to the deceased member of the Fund.
1. Subs for the figures and words “31 st March” vide Act No. 15 of 2008.
12 H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996
(3) Any person removed from the membership of the Fund under sub-
section (5) of section 17 and re-admitted to the Fu nd under sub-section (6) of
that section shall not be entitled to payment of an y amount from the Fund
under this Act during the period between the date o f his removal from the
membership of the Fund and the date of re-admission.
(4) Any member who is suspended by the Bar Council for misconduct
under the Advocates Act, 1961 (25 of 1961) shall no t be entitled to payment
of any amount from the Fund under this Act for the period of suspension.
(5) Every member or his nominee or legal heir, as t he case may be,
shall apply for payment out of the Fund to the Trus tee Committee, in such
form, as may be prescribed.
19. Restriction on alienation, attachment etc. of inter est of
members in the Fund.- (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other
law for the time being in force, the interest of an y member in the Fund or the
right of a member of the Fund or his nominee or leg al heirs to receive any
amount from the Fund, shall not be assigned, aliena ted or charged and shall
not be liable to attachment under any decree or ord er of any court, tribunal or
other authority.
(2) No creditor shall be entitled to proceed agains t the Fund or the
interest therein of any member or his nominee or legal heirs.
Explanation:- For the purpose of this section, “creditor” include s the
State, or an Official Assignee or Official Receiver appointed under the law
relating to insolvency for the time being in force.
20. Group Life Insurance for members and other benefits .-The
Trustee Committee may, for the welfare of the members of the Fund-
(a) obtain from the Life Insurance Corporation of I ndia, policies
of Group Insurance for the members of the Fund;
(b) provide in such manner as may be prescribed for medical and
educational facilities for the members of the Fund and their
dependents; and
(c) provide for such other benefits as may be presc ribed.
21. Ex-gratia grant to a member of the Fund.- The Trustee
Committee on an application submitted to it, and af ter being satisfied about
the genuineness of the claim, may allow ex-gratia grant to a member from the
Fund.-
(a) in the case of hospitalization at least for one month or
involving a major physical operation; or
(b) if he is suffering from tuberculosis, leprosy, paralysis, cancer,
unsoundness of mind or from some other serious dise ases or
disabilities.
H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996 13
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22. Welfare scheme for indigent and disabled advoca tes.-
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, the Trustee Committee may
also at its discretion give financial assistance fr om the Fund to organize
welfare schemes for the indigent, disabled or other advocates 2[or their
dependents], who may or may not be members of the Fund.
23. Meetings of Trustee Committee.- (1) The Trustee Committee
shall meet atleast once in three calendar months or more often if found
necessary to transact business under this Act and the rules made thereunder.
(2) One third members of the Trustee Committee shal l form the
quorum for a meeting of the Committee.
(3) The Chairman, or in his absence, a member elect ed from amongst
the members present, shall preside over the meeting of the Trustee
Committee.
(4) Any matter coming up before a meeting of the Tr ustee Committee
shall be decided by a majority of the members prese nt and voting at the
meeting and in the case of any equality of votes, the chairman or the members
presiding over the meeting shall have a casting vote.
24. Traveling and daily allowances to members of Tr ustee
Committee.- The non-official members of the Trustee Committee shall be
entitled to be paid such traveling allowance and da ily allowance as are
admissible to the members of the Bar Council.
25. Appeal against decisions of trustee Committee.- (1) Appeal
against any decision of the Trustee Committee shall lie to the Bar Council.
(2) The appeal shall be in the prescribed form and shall be accompanied
by –
(a) a copy of the order appealed against; and
(b) a receipt evidencing payment of twenty-five rupees to the credit
of the Bar Council in any of the branches of the St ate Bank of
India in Himachal Pradesh.
(3) The appeal shall be filed within thirty days from the date of receipt
of the order appealed against.
(4) The decision of the Bar Council on the appeal shall be final.
26. Printing and distribution of Advocates Welfare Fund Stamps
by Bar Council.- (1) The Bar Council shall cause to be printed and
distributed Welfare Fund Stamp of the value of 3[ten] rupees inscribed
“Himachal Pradesh Advocates Welfare Fund Stamp” in such design as may be
prescribed.
1. Sub-section (2) deleted vide Act No. 18 of 2004 (Sec.3).
2. The words “or their dependents” ins. vide Act No . 18 of 2004 (Sec. 4)
3. Subs. for the word “five” vide Act No. 18 of 200 4 (sec. 5).
14 H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996
(2) The stamps shall be of the size 2.54 cm. by 5.08 cm.
(3) The custody of the stamps shall be with the Bar Council.
(4) The Bar Council shall control the distribution and sale of the
stamps through the Bar Associations and Advocates Associations.
(5) The Bar Council, the Bar Associations and Advoc ates
Associations shall keep proper accounts of the stam ps in such form and in
such manner as may be prescribed.
(6) The Bar Associations and Advocates Associations shall purchase
the stamps from the Bar Council after paying the va lue thereof less ten per
cent of such value towards incidental expenses.
27. Vakalatnama to bear stamps.- 1[(1) Every Advocate shall affix a
stamp of rupees ten on every Vakalatnama filed by h im before any court,
tribunal or authority and no court, tribunal or aut hority shall accept any
Vakalatnama from an Advocate unless it is so stamp ed in addition to any
stamp required under any other law for the time being in force.]
(2) The value of the stamp shall neither be costs i n a case nor be
collected in any event from the client.
(3) Any contravention of the provisions of sub-sections (1) and (2) by
any member of the Fund shall disentitle him, either in whole or in part, to the
benefits of the Fund 2[and shall be deemed to be a misconduct on the part of
an Advocate] and the Trustee Committee shall report such instances to the Bar
Council for appropriate action
(4) Every stamped affix on vakalatnama filed before any Court,
Tribunal or other authority shall be cancelled in s uch manner as may be
prescribed.
28. Protection of action taken in good faith.- (1) No suit,
prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie ag ainst any person for
anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of
this Act or any rule made thereunder.
(2) No suit or other legal proceedings shall lie against the Government
or the Trustee Committee or the Bar Council for any damage caused by
anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of
this Act or any rule made thereunder.
29. Bar of jurisdiction of civil courts.- No civil court shall have
jurisdiction to settle, decide or deal with any que stion or to determine any
matter which is by or under this Act required to be settled, decided or dealt
with or to be determined by the Trustee Committee or the Bar Council.
30. Power to summon witnesses and take evidence.- The Trustee
Committee and the Bar Council shall, for the purpos e of any enquiry under
1. Subs. vide Act No. 18 of 2004 (sec. 6).
2. Added vide Act No. 18 of 2004 (sec. 6).
H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996 15
this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court while trying a suit
under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) in respect of the
following namely :-
(a) enforcing the attendance of any person or exami ning him on oath;
(b) requiring the discovery and production of documents;
(c) receiving evidence on affidavit; and
(d) issuing commission for the examination of witnesses.
31. Power to make rules.- The Bar Council may, with the previous
approval of the Government, by notification, make r ules for the purposes of
carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.
32. Power to amend Schedule.- The Government may, by
notification, on the recommendation of the Trustee Committee and having due
regard to the availability of the amount in the Fun d, amend the rates specified
in the Schedule.
33. Laying of rules and notification.- Every rule made under
section 31, and every notification issued under sec tion 32, shall, as soon as
possible, after it is made or issued, be laid on th e Table of the Legislative
Assembly and if, before the expiry of the session i n which it is so laid or the
next session, the Assembly makes any modification i n any such rule or
notification or the Assembly decides that rule or the notification should not be
made or issued, the rule or notification shall ther eafter have effect only in
such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so, however, that
any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity
of anything previously done under that rule or notification.
__________
THE SHEDULE
[See sections 9 (2) (e), 18 and 32]
Rs.
1[30 years as a member of the Fund 1,50,000
29 years as a member of the Fund 1,45,000
28 years as a member of the Fund 1,40,000
27 years as a member of the Fund 1,35,000
26 years as a member of the Fund 1,30,000
25 years as a member of the Fund 1,25,000
24 years as a member of the Fund 1,20,000
23 years as a member of the Fund 1,15,000
22 years as a member of the Fund 1,10,000
1. Rates specified in Schedule substituted vide Not. No. . LLR-E(9)- 19/96- Leg.
(Part-II) dated 17 th January, 2007, published in R.H.P. Extra., dated 19.1.2007 , .
11317-11319.
16 H. P. ADVOCATES WELFARE FUND ACT, 1996
21 years as a member of the Fund 1,05,000
20 years as a member of the Fund 1,00,000
19 years as a member of the Fund 95,000
18 years as a member of the Fund 90,000
17 years as a member of the Fund 85,000
16 years as a member of the Fund 80,000
15 years as a member of the Fund 75,000
14 years as a member of the Fund 70,000
13 years as a member of the Fund 65,000
12 years as a member of the Fund 60,000
11 years as a member of the Fund 55,000
10 years as a member of the Fund 50,000
9 years as a member of the Fund 45,000
8 years as a member of the Fund 40,000
7 years as a member of the Fund 35,000
6 years as a member of the Fund 30,000
5 years as a member of the Fund 25,000
4 years as a member of the Fund 20,000
3 years as a member of the Fund 15,000
2 years as a member of the Fund 10,000
1 years as a member of the Fund 5,000.]
______________