26. Power to summon witnesses and take evidence.-The trustee committee and the Bar Council shall, for the purposes of any enquiry under this Act, have the same powers as are vested in a civil court while trying a suit under the Code of Civil

Procedure, 1908, in respect of the following matters, namely:-­

(a) enforcing the attendance of any person or examining him on oath; (b) requiring the discovery and production of documents;

(c) receiving evidence on affidavit;

(d) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses.

1[26A. The Advocates Family Welfare Fund.- (1) Subject to such rules as may be

prescribed, the State Government shall constitute a Fund called the Karnataka Advocates' Family Welfare Fund, for payment of family welfare benefits to the nominees or legal heirs of the deceased advocates;

(2) The contribution for the membership of the fund shall be a sum of rupees one thousand

Provided that the State Government may prescribe a lesser amount for contribution by persons belonging to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes for the membership of the fund;

(3) There shall be credited to the fund,-­

(a) contributions made by the members of the fund;

2[(aa)contribution made by the State Government;]2

(b) any donation or contribution made to the fund by the Bar Council of India, Bar Council, any Bar Association, any Association or authority, institution, any Advocate or any other person or institution.

(4) The State Government shall constitute a Committee for the administration of the fund

(5) Every advocate practising in any Court in the State and being a member of the Bar Association, may apply to the Committee constituted for the Administration of the fund for admission as a member of the fund, in such form as may be prescribed;

1 Inserted by Act 21 of 1993 weJ . 2.4.1997."

'Inserted by Act 6 of 1996 w.eJ. 2.41997