Advocate fund norms challenged

HYDERABAD: Chief justice Madan B. Lokur of the High Court, while dismissing a plea for stay on implementation of Section 15 (1) of the AP Advocates Welfare Fund Act,1987, has admitted the petition challenging the government’s decision to prescribe 35 years as the age limit for membership of the welfare fund.The petitioners, G Brahmaiah from Khammam district and 41 others, in three separate petitions sought the court’s direction to the government and the AP Bar Council (respondents) to admit the petitioners as members of the welfare fund. Further, they wanted the court to declare Section 15 (1) of the Act prescribing the age limit of 35 years for membership as illegal. As per Section 15 (A), persons who retired or availed voluntary retirement from service, got exemption, they contended. The government and the Bar council filed counter-affidavits.