Guwahati, April 29 (MExN): The Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have decided to provide financial assistance to advocates who are affected by COVID-19 and consequent lockdown.
A press release from the Council Chairman, Hafiz Rashid Ahmed Choudhury said that advocates are professionals, not salaried employees and have no social security.
“Most of the Advocates are not financially sound and they are maintaining their livelihood by means of daily earnings,” it said.
However, in view of the lockdown throughout the country, many advocates have been rendered without works due to restricted functioning of the courts and facing financial hardships.
In this regard, the release said that the Council in its meeting on April 23 formulated a scheme in the name of "The Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim COVID-19 Financial Assistance Scheme,” the release said.
Accordingly, a Lawyer enrolled with the Bar Council of aforesaid states “who is really in need of Financial Assistance due to lockdown may be provided Financial Assistance subject to fulfilment of certain criteria, it added.
The applicants can apply for the funds by downloading an application form by visiting – www.barcouncilassametc.org. The application can be to the Chairman in his official address either by way of e-mail "barcouncilofnecovidl9aid@gmail.com" or in person or by speed post/ registered post/courier on or before May 7.
The eligibility criteria for the financial aid are:
• The applicant should be in active practice.
• He/she should not be an income tax payee.
• The applicant should not have any other source of income.
• The applicant should not have a total savings of more than Rs. 30,000 as on March 15.
• The total savings include savings in all bank accounts of the applicant and cash in hand with the applicant.
• The applicants who have not received any sort of assistance /aid/benefit from any Bar Association due to the COVID– 19 pandemic shall get preference under this scheme.
