The High Court postponed the matter for two weeks and ordered the parties to return with clarity whether any legal provision requires such financial assistance to junior lawyers. Representative image. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/Istockphoto
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) raised questions about whether junior lawyers in Maharaštře have the legal right to obtain a monthly scholarship, even though they expressed compassion for their financial struggles.
The divisional bench composed of the main judge Aradhe and the Justice Sandeep Mary heard a public interest (drank) filed by twelve junior laws from Maharashtra, looking for a monthly 5,000 GBP scholarship for junior lawyers with less than three years of experience.
The Court acknowledged the financial problems facing junior lawyers, a legal basis for the scholarship order. “What is the legal right? We support you on a personal level. We agree with you. But most importantly, who will give it? Bar Council has no funds. Do you give any funds?” The chief judge Aradhe asked.
He also asked whether the demand served a wider public interest: “There is no element of public interest. How does society generally deal with scholarships to young lawyers?”
The petitioners, represented by the advocates Ajit Ajit DESHPANDE and Akshay Desai, claimed that the scholarship would provide major financial assistance during formative years of legal practice, especially for those affected by the Covid-19 pandemies. They quoted similar schemes carried out in other countries, including Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Keral, Jharkend and Andhra Pradesh, and pointed to the recommendations of the Indian Council (BCI) for scholarships in rural areas and 20,000 GBP in urban areas.
When the petitioners emphasized that the High Court in Delhi had already given instructions in this respect, the chief Judge Aradhe replied: “Why only 15,000 ₹? We believe that in cities like Mumbai, 45,000 GBP should be paid.
The Council of the Maharashtra and GoA (BCMG) Bar Answer said in its answer that the implementation of this system would cost approximately 155 GBP Crore per year – the amount that he claimed could not afford without state support. BCMG advisor said, “Some states that have these schemes are supported. We cannot do this in the Mahari. We have sent a representation.”
The court postponed the matter for two weeks and ordered the parties to understand whether any legal provision requires such financial assistance to junior lawyers. The petition also suggests that the Maharashtra defense is used to finance the system.
Filed in 2022, the petition argues to create a permanent scholarship system to support young advocates through early, financially unstable years of legal practice.
The petition stated: “A survey conducted by the Vishi Center for Legal Policy, that more than 79% of the lawyers responded to the 7 Supreme Courts said that advocates with less than 2 years of legal practice in the bar earn less than 10,000 ₹ per month.
He also said that the state government of Maharashtra has not taken any steps to support new lawyers and provided economic assistance to the Maharashtra and Goa Bar Assistance.
“On March 24, 2020, the Indian Bar Association appealed to the premiere of Narendra Modi to provide 20,000 GBP as a minimum living allowance per month to lawyers who are not financially well to support their families after locking.
Published – June 26 2025 04:04 IS
