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Kapil Sibal Lauded as SCBA Raises ₹43 Crore for Lawyers' Welfare Fund

New Delhi: Senior Advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Kapil Sibal was honored on Wednesday after the lawyers' body successfully mobilized over ₹43 crore through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The funds, part of Sibal’s election promise, will support medical insurance and financial aid for advocates.  

The felicitation ceremony, held at the Supreme Court’s Library 2 on April 9, was attended by members of the Friday Group, an academic circle of Supreme Court lawyers. Sibal emphasized that the achievement was a collective effort, stating:  

“This is not for me—it is for the Bar, our family. Not a single person I approached refused, from Mukesh Ambani to Torrent. Everyone stepped forward.” 

Key Highlights:  

- Current Corpus: ₹43.43 crore (original target: ₹50 crore).  

- Revised Goal: Sibal now aims for ₹60 crore, with plans to establish a permanent insurance scheme requiring a ₹120 crore corpus.  

- Judicial Backing: Sibal revealed he discussed the matter with CJI Sanjiv Khanna, who assured government coordination. He jokingly added that if needed, Justice BR Gavai (next in line as CJI) could issue a writ of mandamus—drawing laughter from attendees.  

Broader Vision for Legal Welfare

Advocate G Seshagiri (Friday Group founder) urged state and district bars to replicate the model. Sibal echoed this, stressing the need for sustainable advocacy welfare systems.  

In his closing remarks, Sibal redirected praise to the legal fraternity:  

“Don’t congratulate me—it’s my duty. Credit goes to your solidarity in making this possible.”  

“Not a single person said no. From Mukesh Ambani to Torrent—just name it.”

—Kapil Sibal, SCBA President  

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