Roll back of hiked fees for Bihar Bar elections ordered
Court also mandates 30% reservation for women lawyers in Advocates Association polls
Patna: In a major victory for the agitating advocates, Justice Ajit Kumar on Thursday ordered a drastic cut in the fees for filing of nomination papers for Advocates Association elections scheduled for next month in Patna High Court.
Following a two-day hearing on a petition challenging the “exorbitant” hike in the fees, the Patna High Court ordered a 75 per cent reduction in the fees.
Now, it will be Rs 6,250 for President, Rs 5,000 for Vice President and General Secretary. Earlier, the fees were Rs 25,000 for President, and Rs 20,000 for Vice President and General Secretary.
Mrs Chhaya Mishra, Vice President of the association, who argued in the case, said many economically poor but deserving lawyers would be deprived of their right to contest because of the heavy fees.
Petitioner Saroj Kumar, in his complaint, regretted that the general body of the association was not taken into confidence while raising the nomination fees. He said the unilateral decision of the Returning Officer smacked of a “feudal decision”.
The court also ordered that 30 per cent of the posts in the association should be reserved for women lawyers.