Ranchi: In a major relief for thousands of practicing lawyers across Jharkhand and their families, the state government is set to launch a health insurance scheme for advocates on May 3. Chief Minister Hemant Soren will formally inaugurate the scheme and distribute health insurance cards to the beneficiaries.
The launch event will take place at the Harivansh Tana Bhagat Auditorium in Khelgaon, Ranchi. Around 27,000 lawyers and their dependents across the state are expected to benefit from the scheme, which aims to provide financial support for medical treatment and reduce the burden of healthcare costs for legal professionals.
The decision to implement the scheme follows a directive from the Jharkhand High Court, which, during a hearing of Public Interest Litigation (W.P. (PIL) 1956/2021) on July 10, 2024, observed that while lawyers play a vital role in upholding justice, they often lack access to basic government-supported benefits. The court had urged both state and central governments to consider introducing health and life insurance schemes for advocates, noting that many legal professionals face financial hardships and struggle to afford medical care.
Subsequently, the Jharkhand government announced its plan to introduce the health insurance scheme on September 13, 2024, and is now moving forward with its implementation. Advocate Mohammad Shadab Ansari represented the petitioners in the case that led to this policy development.