The move on the part of Odisha State Bar Council (OSBC), making it mandatory for affixing a Rs 100 welfare stamp on every ‘vakalatnama’ (legal document) and memo of appearance filed before any court, tribunal or legal authority, has come under judicial scrutiny with Orissa High Court seeking amicable settlement of the dispute over the welfare stamp fee.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Harish Tandon and Justice M S Raman was adjudicating a petition that challenged the move, maintaining that it was arbitrary and beyond the legislative competence of Odisha State Bar Council’s (OSBC) Advocates’ Welfare Corpus Fund Rules, 2020.
“Considering the gamut of dispute, this Court feels it desirable that the parties may explore the possibility of an amicable resolution thereof. We invite the attention of the respective counsels and the parties in this regard,” the Division Bench stated in an order.
”We expect that the parties will discuss the issues with the open mind and arrive at an amicable solution. To give impetus to the desire as expressed hereinabove, let this matter be listed on 17th November,” concluded the Court in the order.