Section 17 in The High Court Legal Services Committee Regulations, 1997
17. Fee/Honorarium payable to Legal Practitioners on the Panel.
(1)A panel of suitable advocates who are agreeable to conduct the cases or proceedings on behalf of the persons in whose favour a certificate of eligibility has been issued shall be prepared by the Committee. Ordinarily the panel so prepared shall be for two years. A copy of the panel so prepared shall be sent to the State Authority for information, advice and direction, if any. Such advocates shall be paid fee or honorarium at such rate as may be determined, from time to time, by the State Authority. Until so determined the rate of fee or honorarium fixed for the purpose under the relevant State Government Orders shall continue.(2)No legal practitioner to whom any case is assigned for Legal Aid, Legal Advice or Legal Services shall receive any fee or remuneration, whether in cash or in kind or any other advantage, monetary or otherwise, from the aided person or from any other person on his behalf.(3)A legal practitioner on the panel, who has completed his assignment, shall submit a statement showing the fee or honorarium due to him in connection with the legal proceedings conducted by him on behalf of the aided person to the Secretary who shall, after due scrutiny and approval of the Chairman, sanction the amount to be paid to the advocate concerned.(4)An advocate may be permitted to provide Legal Aid, Legal Advice or Legal Services without charging any fee or honorarium.(5)The Chairman may, in suitable cases, appoint any advocate, not on panel, to file or defend a case.
