“It is better to work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Guarantee Act than working as government pleaders, considering the remuneration they get,” said K.L. Manjunath, retired judge of Karnataka High Court, here on Saturday.
Mr. Manjunath was speaking at the second conference of District Government Pleaders, Additional District Government Pleaders and Additional Government Pleaders of Karnataka.
Mr. Manjunath said, the State government was paying low remuneration to government pleaders. People working under the MNREGA were getting more remuneration. “In the late 1970s, I got an offer to work as government pleader in the High Court. By that time, I had established my office well and I rejected the offer, thinking that if I accept it, I will have to close my office without earning,” he said.
Referring to the problems faced by government pleaders in defending the government, its officials seldom provide the necessary documents.
“I have seen officials who feel it below their dignity to sit in an advocate’s chamber and discuss cases. Of course, they will make all possible efforts to defend themselves, if it is their personal matter. The State government should ensure that advocates representing it get all the support they needed,” he said.
Ravivarma Kumar, Advocate-General of Karnataka, who inaugurated the conference, said that he had constituted a committee, under the chairmanship of Additional Advocate-General A.G. Shivanna, regarding the demands of government advocates. He would recommend the State government for revising the payment for advocates and ensure basic amenities like well-furnished office and secretaries.
Prof. Kumar appealed to the government advocates to work without expectations. “Santosh Hegde, when he was the Lokayukta, requested me to represent his institution on cases against corrupt senior officials of the State Government. I fought the cases without any fee, even as advocates representing the corrupt officials were paid fee in lakhs. If you work honestly as government advocates, it adds to your reputation,” he said.
Karnataka High Court judges Abdul Nazeer and A.V. Chandrashekhar, Chairman of the Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission H. Kantharaj and Hassan District judge R.J. Satish Singh were present.
