They are known as individuals who fight for justice. But what happens when they are compelled to do clerical work and are reduced to stenographers, clerks and filing clerks? This is the fate of around 100-odd lawyers of the Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation (BMC). As a result, the civic body has spent as much as R60 crore over the last five years to hire 186 legal eagles from external law firms.

According to data provided by the Law Department, BMC hired 186 counsellors for all courts (Supreme Court to Lower Court) and 4,524 cases were allotted to them over the last five years