Preliminary

1. (1) This Act may be called The Rajasthan Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 1987.
2. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Rajasthan.
3. (3) It shall come into force on such date2 as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. (a) "Advocate" means a person whose name has been entered in the State roll of advocates prepared and maintained by the Bar Council of Rajasthan State under Section 17 of the Advocates Act, 1961 (Central Act 25 of 1961) and who is a member of a bar association; 1[ (aa)"Bar Association" means an association of lawyers registered and recognized by the Bar Council;]
2. (b) "Fund" means the Advocates Welfare Fund constituted under Section 3;
3. (c) "Bar Council" means the Bar Council of Rajasthan State constituted under the Advocates Act, 1961 (Central Act 25 of 1961);
4. (d) "Cessation of Practice" means removal of the name of an advocate from the State roll of advocates maintained by the Bar Council on account of his retirement or death;
5. (e) "Dependents" means wife, husband, father, mother and unmarried minor children of a member of the Fund and includes his widowed daughter and major children who suffer from physical disability or insanity and who are maintained by him or such of them who survive on his death;
6. (f) "Member of the Fund" means an advocate who is admitted to the benefits of the fund under the provisions of this Act and continues to be a member thereof;
7. (g) "Nominee" means nominee appointed by a member of the Fund to receive the benefits arising from such membership in the event of his death;
8. (h) "Prescribed" means prescribed by the Bar Council by rules made under this Act;
   • (i) "Stamp" or "Welfare Fund Fee Stamp" means stamp printed and distributed under Section 19;
9. (j) "State" means the State of Rajasthan;
10. (k) "Suspension of Practice" means voluntary suspension of practice as an advocate or suspension by the Bar Council for professional or other misconduct;
11. (l) "Trustee Committee" means the Committee established under Section 4; 2[xxxx]
12. (m) "Vakalatnama" means and includes memorandum of appearance or any other document by which an advocate is empowered to appear or plead before any court, tribunal or other authority legally authorised by any law to take evidence or to adjudicate or decide any dispute 3[but does not include a memorandum of appearance authorising an advocate to appear on behalf of another advocate for the purpose of seeking adjournment only; and] 4[(n) "Year" means a period of twelve months commencing from 1st day of July and ending on the 30th day of June next.]