Lawyers too should undergo compulsory training like judges: SC
Observing that if there is there is a law academy for judges, why is it not for lawyers, the bench noted that no action is being taken against erring lawyers by the Bar Council.
Punjab Advocate General (AG) Atul Nanda has mooted a comprehensive insurance cover for lawyers with the Advocates Welfare Fund, which is currently being used only for compensation to the legal fraternity.
Addressing the inaugural function at the two-day workshop organised by the Bar Council of India, on improving professional standards at the Bar on Sunday, Nanda called for a radical break from the conventional use of the Fund in order to provide wider assistance to the lawyers. He said, such a move would also help not only protect but in fact augment the principle corpus of the Fund.
In his keynote address, the senior advocate also favoured the establishment of an academy for improving the skills of lawyers. He was, however, of the view that such academy should be participative in nature rather than being a state product.
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Endorsing Nanda’s view, Justice Mahesh Grover suggested that until such an effort was in place and executed, the Chandigarh Judicial Academy could be used for such purposes. Justice Anil Ksheterpal, Judge, High Court of Punjab and Haryana, underlined the importance of senior advocates mentoring and training the junior advocates, which could go a long way in strengthening the judicial system, particularly in the prevailing environment when the judiciary was under extreme pressure. Manan Kumar Mishra, Senior Advocate and Chairman of the Bar Council of India, delivered the presidential address.
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