Chapter I Preliminary

1. (1) This Act may be called the Goa Advocates‘ Welfare Fund Act, 1995.
2. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Goa.
3. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint. Synopsis Date on which Act came in to force: The Government vide Notification No. 4-39-97/LD dated 29th May, 1997 published in the Official Gazette Series-I No. 9 (Extraordinary) Notified 30th May, 1997 as the date on which the Act came into force.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

1. (a) “Advocate” means a person whose name has been enrolled on the roll of Advocates prepared and maintained by the Bar Council under section 17 of the Advocates Act, 1961 (Central Act XXV of 1961);
2. (b) “Advocates Act” means the Advocates Act, 1961 (Central Act XXV of 1961);
3. (c) “Goa Advocates’ Welfare Fund” or ― “Fund” means the fund constituted under section 3 and maintained under the provisions of this Act;
4. (d) “Bar Association” means an association of Advocates attached to any Court or any Tribunal or such other authority or person as is legally authorized to take evidence or to adjudicate or to decide any dispute in the State and recognized by the Board under section 17; 1[(dd) One member of Bar Council elected from the State of Goa to be recommended by the said Council and whenever such member is not available, any other member of Bar Council recommended by the Bar Council.]
5. (e) “Bar Council” means the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa constituted under section 3 of the Advocates Act, 1961 (Central Act XXV of 1961); 2[(f)“The Under Secretary (Establishment) to the Government—Ex-Officio Secretary.]
6. (g) “cessation of Practice” in relation to an Advocate means discontinuance of practice by the Advocate by taking up any employment, trade, calling or other similar engagement or discontinuance of practice on account of death or disability;
7. (h) “dependents” means wife, husband, father, mother, unmarried daughter and minor children or such of them as exist;
   • (i) “Government” means the Government of Goa;
8. (j) “member of the Fund” means an Advocate who is admitted to the benefits of the Fund and who continues to be a member thereof under the provisions of this Act;
9. (k) “nominee” means a person nominated in the prescribed manner by a member of the Fund to receive the amount, which may be due to the member, from the Fund in the event of his death before the amount is paid to him;
10. (l) “prescribed” means prescribed by regulations;
11. (m) “regulations” means regulations made by the Board under this Act;
12. (n) “retirement” means giving up of practice as an Advocate which is communicated to and recorded by the Bar Council;
13. (o) “stamp” means the Goa Advocates‘ Welfare Fund Stamp printed and distributed by the Board under section 23;
14. (p) “standing” means the period of actual practice from the date of enrollment as advocate and sanad obtained from the Bar Council or appropriate authority;
15. (q) “State” means the State of Goa;
16. (r) “suspension of practice” means voluntary suspension of practice as an Advocate or suspension by the Bar Council for misconduct.