Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced several welfare and technology-related measures for advocates and state law officers during a programme organised by the Allahabad High Court Bar Association in Prayagraj.
One of the major announcements was a cashless medical insurance facility of up to Rs 5 lakh for practising advocates in Uttar Pradesh. The proposed scheme is intended to provide healthcare support to members of the legal profession across the state.
The chief minister said the facility would cover advocates practising in the High Court and district courts. The announcement is aimed at strengthening welfare support for members of the legal community and providing financial assistance for medical treatment.
Adityanath also announced that 400 state law officers would be provided with tablets. The objective, according to the government, is to improve the use of technology in legal work and enable law officers to access information relating to government cases before courts more efficiently.
The announcement comes as courts and government departments increasingly rely on digital systems for case management, documentation and communication. Providing electronic devices to law officers is expected to support faster access to case-related information and improve coordination in government litigation.
During his address, Adityanath also spoke about the changes he said had taken place in Uttar Pradesh since his government came to power in 2017. He criticised the previous Samajwadi Party government and said the state had faced challenges relating to governance, transparency, accountability, law and order and judicial infrastructure.
The chief minister claimed that a significant number of police posts were vacant before 2017. According to his statement, nearly 45 to 50 per cent of posts in the Uttar Pradesh Police were vacant at that time. These remarks formed part of his broader comparison between the situation before 2017 and the government's subsequent efforts in administration and infrastructure.
Adityanath also highlighted measures taken to strengthen the legal and judicial system. He said the government had increased coordination between the police and prosecution system and had introduced online mechanisms aimed at improving the timely filing of charge sheets and presentation of evidence.
The chief minister pointed to the use of digital technology in courts and prisons as another area of development. According to the details presented at the event, district courts and prisons have been connected through high-speed internet and video conferencing facilities.
He also referred to the use of digital systems for recording court proceedings and the scanning and digitisation of legal records. Such measures are intended to reduce dependence on physical documents and make information more accessible to judicial and legal authorities.
Another important announcement concerned the Advocate Welfare Fund. The government has increased the financial assistance available under the fund from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh, according to reports from the event. The age limit for financial assistance to families of deceased advocates was also raised from 60 to 70 years.
The government has also increased the fees paid to law officers representing the state. Adityanath said the fees of government lawyers had been increased by more than 50 per cent.
Infrastructure for advocates was another major focus of the programme. The chief minister handed over the keys to a newly constructed lawyers' chambers building to representatives of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association.
According to the details presented at the event, chambers and related facilities have been developed for more than 10,000 lawyers at the Allahabad High Court premises. The project reportedly includes multi-level parking and other facilities for members of the legal community.
Adityanath said the state government would provide support for proposals submitted by the Chief Justice, judiciary or Bar Association regarding basic facilities such as furniture and essential equipment for the newly constructed chambers.
The chief minister also spoke about the changing nature of the legal profession. He said lawyers need to understand emerging areas such as cybercrime, artificial intelligence, data privacy, digital commerce, financial technology, intellectual property and climate-related litigation.
He urged young lawyers to develop their professional skills while also contributing to the judicial system and upholding constitutional values. He said the legal profession has a wider role in maintaining public confidence in the justice system.
The event was attended by senior members of the judiciary, government ministers and representatives of the Allahabad High Court Bar Association. Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court Justice Arun Bhansali and other senior officials were among those present.
The announcements come at a time when Uttar Pradesh is placing greater emphasis on digital governance and technology-driven administration. The use of online platforms, video conferencing and digitised records has become increasingly important in the functioning of courts and government legal departments.
For practising advocates, the proposed cashless medical insurance scheme could provide additional financial protection, while the increase in welfare assistance could offer greater support to lawyers and their families.
The tablet initiative for 400 state law officers is focused more directly on professional efficiency. Access to digital information can help government lawyers track cases, review documents and coordinate with departments handling litigation.
Overall, the announcements made in Prayagraj combine welfare measures for advocates with technology-focused initiatives for government law officers. The state government has presented these measures as part of a broader effort to modernise legal infrastructure, improve digital access and strengthen support for the legal profession.