Prayagraj: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday announced that the state govt would introduce a cashless insurance scheme offering coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh to practising advocates in UP.He also announced plans to provide tablets to 400 state law officers, equipping them with modern technology to access information related to govt cases pending before courts. The state govt has already over 50% hike in their fees, he added.The chief minister made this announcement at the Allahabad High Court Bar Association programme organised to felicitate him.He further announced that the advocate welfare fund has been increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. Besides, the age limit for assistance upon demise has been raised upto 70 years.Addressing the event, the CM urged the new generation of advocates to become sentinels of constitutional values and play a vital role in delivering justice to the grassroots.He stated that only a future-ready bar could establish a robust foundation for a future-ready justice system. The CM also stated that the govt would provide support for furniture and equipment for over 10,000 advocate chambers.The CM took a swipe at the previous Samajwadi Party govt, saying that before 2017, the state faced not only a shortage of resources but also issues related to governance, transparency, accountability, law and order, and judicial infrastructure.“Prior to 2017, nearly 45 to 50 per cent of posts in the UP Police were vacant. Transparency, accountability, law and order, and judicial infrastructure were major challenges. In contrast, police training capacity has now been enhanced from 3,000 to 60,000 personnel per year,” he added.“Previously, district courts in 10 districts were operating out of temporary and rented premises, and advocate chambers were dilapidated. Today, advocate chambers for over 10,000 lawyers have been constructed at a cost of Rs 700 crore,” he added.He also highlighted the crucial role of the legal community from the freedom struggle to nation building.CM Yogi said that the legal fraternity is an integral part of the nation’s intellectual society. It shapes public opinion and serves as a symbol of trust.From the Independence movement and the drafting of the Constitution to the administration of independent India, strengthening the pillars of democracy, and the ongoing mission of nation-building, the legal community has played a pivotal role. He noted that India’s freedom movement remained fragmented for a long time until Mahatma Gandhi gave up his legal practice in South Africa to lead the movement, giving it a new direction and momentum. Prayagraj has been a witness to numerous lawyers who actively participated in the freedom struggle alongside their practice at the Allahabad HC.The CM highlighted that luminaries like Pandit Motilal Nehru and Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya propelled the Independence movement forward and stood firmly by the revolutionaries. Leaders like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr BR Ambedkar also made invaluable contributions to India’s freedom struggle.Referring to Dr Rajendra Prasad’s connection with Prayagraj, the CM said that the Presidential Suite on the banks of the Sangam serves as a reminder of the President of the Constituent Assembly and India’s first President. Dr Rajendra Prasad used to visit Prayagraj during every Kumbh and observe Kalpvas during the Magh Mela.He added that during the restoration and consecration of the Somnath Temple in independent India, the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad visited Somnath in person. To honour his contributions to the nation, the Constitution, and his role as India’s first President, the state govt decided to establish the Dr Rajendra Prasad National Law University in Prayagraj.The CM noted that while the three pillars of democracy operate within their respective frameworks, better coordination and dialogue among them make democracy more mature and resilient. The judiciary also plays an indispensable role in advancing the rule of law and the goals of good governance.He emphasized that the Bar and the Bench are the two vital wheels of the chariot of justice, and strong dialogue and coordination must always exist between them.Yogi added that meetings between the CM and the Chief Justice do not solely focus on judicial matters; issues concerning advocates are given equal importance. The Chief Justice, as the guardian of the judiciary, effectively places matters concerning advocates before the govt to find constructive solutions.CM Yogi stated that mutual respect, courtesy, dialogue, coordination, and cooperation between the Bar and the Bench are vital for the administration of justice. He noted that the police represent the first link in the justice system. The CM mentioned that in 56 districts across the state, the tallest buildings are police infrastructure, barracks, or training institutes.He said that enhanced coordination between the executive and the judiciary is yielding tangible results in terms of systemic reforms and transformation. A strong judiciary reinforces the foundation of good governance, which is the primary priority of an elected government.He shared that police-prosecution coordination has significantly improved conviction rates. By integrating the prosecution system with online platforms, timely filing of charge sheets and the presentation of robust scientific evidence before the courts have been ensured. District courts and prisons have been linked with high-speed internet and video conferencing. The Nyay Shruti system has enabled the virtual recording of court testimonies, and the scanning and digitization of court records have been expedited.The CM stated that the construction of integrated court complexes in 10 districts is progressing rapidly. He commended Chief Justice Arun Bhansali for his proactive efforts in this regard.These complexes will bring all judicial functions under one roof, alongside residential quarters for judicial officers, advocate chambers, sports and indoor stadiums, and subsidized canteens for advocates. He further shared that fast-track court mechanisms have been expanded for swift justice, with approval granted for 900 district-level courts in the first phase.Yogi stated that advocate chambers for more than 10,000 lawyers have been constructed in Prayagraj at Rs 700 crore, along with amenities such as multi-level parking, a dining hall, common rooms, and a library. Funds have also been allocated for constructing advocate chambers at the district level. Chambers have been built or are under construction in nearly a dozen districts, including Kaushambi, Lucknow, Kasganj, and Shravasti.Yogi said that the day held immense significance as it coincided with Hindi Diwas, Hartalika Teej, and Ganesh Chaturthi. From this sacred land, he extended heartfelt greetings and best wishes to the people of the state.BoxCM Yogi urges advocates to keep pace with AICM Yogi Adityanath emphasized that the greatest strength of the justice system is the trust of the common man. “The judiciary, executive, and legislature truly pass the test of democracy only when citizens retain their faith in them. For this, timely justice is paramount. Citizens must have faith in fair hearings, non-discriminatory treatment, and equality before the law,” he added.He noted that transparency, integrity in judgments, institutional accountability, and public trust are essential for a sensitive and strong judicial system. “In changing times, the legal field faces emerging challenges and opportunities such as cybercrime, artificial intelligence, data privacy, digital commerce, fintech, intellectual property, and climate litigation. Advocates must develop a profound understanding of technology, the evolving economy, and societal transformations,” he added.Yogi said that the responsibility of carrying forward the rich legacy of the Allahabad HC rests on the shoulders of the new generation of lawyers. Young advocates must not limit themselves to being successful legal professionals; they must also become guardians of constitutional values and sensitive, responsible citizens. An advocate’s role is not confined to case outcomes alone—their efforts can alter a person’s trust and the entire trajectory of their life.During the event, CM Yogi symbolically handed over the keys to the Adhivakta Bhavan (Advocate Building). He mentioned that multi-level parking facilities and chambers have been constructed for over 10,000 advocates within the HC premises.He assured that the state govt would provide full support for proposals submitted by the Chief Justice, the judiciary, or the Bar Association regarding basic amenities such as furniture and essential equipment for these chambers.The ceremony was attended by Chief Justice of the Allahabad HC Justice Arun Bhansali, senior judge Justice Arindam Sinha, deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, jal shakti minister Swatantra Dev Singh, industrial development minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’, advocate general Ajay Kumar Misra, Allahabad HCBA president Rakesh Pandey, and general secretary of HC bar Akhilesh Kumar Sharma, among others.
