Ashok Kumar, J. - (1.) Petitioner is enrolled as an Advocate to the Bar Council of Rajasthan. Initially he was enrolled in the year 1963. However, after getting employment elsewhere the petitioner got his practice suspended in the year 1968. Subsequently, the petitioner resumed his practice as an Advocate in the year 1993.
(2.) In the meanwhile, Rajasthan Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 1987 had already come into force. The petitioner submitted an application for membership of the Rajasthan Advocates Welfare Fund under Section 16 of the Act of 1987. The application was rejected by the Bar Council vide letter dated 23rd April, 1994, on the ground that since the petitioner had been in employment for more than 20 years before resuming his practice, he was not entitled to get the benefits from the fund as provided under Section 18 of the above Act.
(3.) The petitioner filed an appeal against the above order of rejection. However, the appeal was also rejected by the General Body of the Bar Council of Rajasthan, which was communicated to the petitioner vide letter dated 26.9.1994. While challenging the above orders passed by the Bar Council, rejecting his application for enrolment to the Welfare Fund, the petitioner has prayed for directions to the respondent-Bar Council to admit the petitioner as a member of the Advocate Welfare Fund.;