Yogi Adityanath announces Rs 5 lakh insurance, tablets for 400 UP advocates

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday criticised the previous Samajwadi Party government over the state of governance before 2017 and announced a series of measures for the legal fraternity, including tablets for 400 state law officers and a cashless insurance scheme of up to Rs 5 lakh for practising advocates.

Addressing a felicitation ceremony organised by the Allahabad High Court Bar Association in Prayagraj, Adityanath said his government had worked on law and order, judicial infrastructure, technology and coordination between the executive and the judiciary, while also expanding welfare support for advocates.

"Before 2017, the challenge before us was not merely of resources. It was also a challenge of the system and approach, transparency and accountability in administration, law and order and judicial infrastructure," the Chief Minister said.

He said nearly 45 to 50 per cent of posts in the Uttar Pradesh Police were vacant before his government took office in 2017. He added that the police force's annual training capacity was then around 3,000 personnel and has now gone up to 60,000.

"There was no training capacity and even basic facilities for the police were lacking," Adityanath said, adding that his government had strengthened police infrastructure and training facilities across the state.

The Chief Minister also spoke about the condition of the subordinate judiciary before 2017, saying many courts functioned from dilapidated or temporary buildings and district courts in ten districts were operating from rented premises.

He said the government had addressed problems that had earlier affected the criminal justice system, including witnesses turning hostile out of fear in serious cases and poor arrangements for taking prisoners from jails to courts.

"Today, you can see the results of better coordination between the executive and the judiciary. When we reform and transform, the performance becomes visible on its own," he said. He added that a strong judiciary strengthens the foundations of good governance and should be a priority for any elected government.

Adityanath said the government had focused on greater use of technology, modernised infrastructure, and improved coordination between the police and prosecution, which had led to a rise in conviction rates. He said the prosecution system is now linked to online platforms to ensure timely filing of charge sheets and effective presentation of scientific evidence in court.

He said district courts and jails had been provided with high-speed internet and video conferencing facilities, while virtual recording of evidence and digitisation of court documents were being promoted to reduce delays in trials.

"Justice delayed is justice denied," he said, stressing that timely and impartial justice was essential for maintaining public faith in the judiciary and other democratic institutions.

The Chief Minister said integrated court complexes were being developed to provide judicial facilities, residential accommodation for judicial officers, chambers for lawyers and other amenities under one roof.

He also announced that the government would fully support the provision of essential facilities, including furniture and equipment, for chambers built for more than 10,000 lawyers as part of the multi-level parking and chamber complex. He said the government would assist in receiving proposals through the judiciary and the chief justice.

On welfare measures for advocates, Adityanath said assistance from the lawyers' welfare fund had been increased from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. He added that the age limit for financial assistance to the families of deceased advocates had been raised from 60 to 70 years.

He also announced a cashless insurance scheme of up to Rs 5 lakh for practising advocates in the state.

He said 400 state law officers would be given tablets to equip them with modern technology and help them access information related to government cases before courts.

Referring to emerging challenges, he said the legal fraternity must prepare for areas such as cybercrime, artificial intelligence, data privacy, e-commerce, fintech, intellectual property and climate litigation.

"A future-ready Bar will lay a strong foundation for a future-ready justice system," he said, adding that the younger generation of lawyers had a major responsibility in carrying forward the rich traditions of the Allahabad High Court.

Repeating that a strong judiciary is the basis of good governance, Adityanath called for continued coordination and mutual respect between the Bar and the Bench while outlining reforms, welfare measures and technology-led changes in the justice system.