Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, while presiding over a function organised here yesterday at the Law Bhawan jointly by the state government and the Bar Association of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to implement the Punjab Advocates' Welfare Fund Act, said the fund was a pragmatic step aimed at welfare of advocates. He exhorted the legal fraternity to discharge their duties with professional commitment in larger public interest.

The CM commended the Chief Justice, who, with the participation of his fellow judges, launched a special campaign to bring awareness among litigants to adopt the process of mediation and conciliation for the settlement of cases promptly.

Badal announced Rs 1 crore on the spot for the fund and agreed in principle to pay annual installment of Rs 1 crore each for the remaining period of his tenure. Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Tirath Singh Thakur said it was the general impression that lawyers represented an affluent class but the ground reality was entirely different.

Punjab Advocate General HS Mattewal said he hoped that the interface between judiciary and the state government would prove to be an ideal platform and go a long way in strengthening the bonds of judiciary, legislature and executive.

He said the implementation of this act would benefit 30,000 advocates. He pointed out that the trustee committee would grant up to Rs 5 lakh in case of death of an advocate and up to Rs 2 lakh in case of an accident.