Voltage Circuit Switch with BJT
It looks to be a 12mA 15mA short circuit protection current limiter on Vee

It acts as a Voltage switch that limits current.

0.6V/47 ohms = 12mA
err 12.77 


actually  up to 15mA at cold temp  as 0.6 rises 4mV/'C to 0.7V at +25'C rise 
0.7/47=15mA 


which is a typical BJT Op Amp current limit, since the Q2 base current is very low
~15V/12k /hFE=Ib the threshold is only 0.6V at room temp.



For more examples of this limiter, see this for a 12V 1A Zener regulator limited to 1.3A Short circuit output