Vidhi Codex

Bare Act

The Maharashtra Advocated Welfare Fund Act, 1981

General198130 sections

The Maharashtra Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 1981, establishes a dedicated financial safety net for legal practitioners in the state. It creates an "Advocates Welfare Fund" managed by a Trustee Committee, funded primarily through mandatory welfare stamps affixed to Wakalatnamas (legal authorization documents) and annual member subscriptions. The Act provides retirement and death benefits to enrolled advocates who are members of recognized Bar Associations. By ensuring financial support upon cessation of practice or in the event of death, the legislation aims to provide social security to lawyers, helping them and their families manage financial transitions during retirement or unforeseen circumstances.

Start reading →Read full ActSections
  1. 0. Preamble
  2. 1. Short title, extent and commencement
  3. 2. Definitions
  4. 3. Constitution of Advocates Welfare Fund
  5. 4. Establishment of Trustee Committee
  6. 5. Disqualifications and removal of nominated members of Trustee Committee
  7. 6. Resignation by nominated members of Trustee Committee and filling up of casual vacancies
  8. 7. Members to act during vacancy, acts of Trustee Committee, etc. not to be invalidated by informalities
  9. 8. Meeting of Trustee Committee
  10. 9. Travelling and daily allowance to members of Trustee Committee
  11. 10. Vesting and application of Fund
  12. 11. Functions of Trustee Committee
  13. 12. Funds, borrowing and investment
  14. 13. Powers and duties of Secretary
  15. 14. Recognition and Registration of Bar Associations
  16. 15. Duties of Bar Association
  17. 16. Membership in the Fund
  18. 17. Payment from the Fund on cessation of practice
  19. 18. Printing and distribution of stamps and payment of amount of sale proceeds by Bar Council to Trustee Committee
  20. 19. Wakalatnama to bear stamp
  21. 20. Cancellation of welfare fund stamp affixed on Wakalatnama
  22. 21. Exemption from sections 19 and 20 in certain cases
  23. 22. Appeal against any decisions of Committee
  24. 23. Group life insurance for members and other benefits for Advocates
  25. 24. Restriction on alienation, attachment, etc. of interest of member in the Fund
  26. 25. Protection of action taken in good faith
  27. 26. Bar of jurisdiction of Civil Courts
  28. 27. Power to summon witnesses and take evidence
  29. 28. Power to make regulations
  30. I. SCHEDULE

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