 advocate Sanjay Jain, appearing for the Advocate Welfare Committee Trust, informed the Delhi High court.){kind=link}
A trust has come forward to help advocates who need financial help in the fight against COVID.
On Wednesday (July 8) advocate Sanjay Jain, appearing for the Advocate Welfare Committee Trust, informed the Delhi High court that a detailed report has been filed by the trust committee according to which, those advocates who are members of the said Welfare Trust may avail the benefit of reimbursement of medical expenses incurred on the treatment of COVID 19.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan, was hearing a petition filed by Vaibhav Sharma, seeking financial assistance for advocates suffering from COVID 19.
The committee also informed the bench that there will also be ex-gratia grant from the relief fund. Advocate Jain further submitted that Rs 2 crore have already been allotted for the purpose and a sub-committee shall also be constituted for disbursement of the funds.
Advocate Jain further pointed out that very few advocates are members of the Trust and therefore a request is made that other advocates may also get the membership and join the Advocate Welfare Trust so that the benefits thereof can be extended to them as well.
He further requested the bench that while imposing costs in legal proceedings, the “Advocate Welfare Trust Committee” be kept in consideration.
Advocate Jain further submitted that the Bar Council of Delhi has been kind enough to agree to release the deposit of 20 percent of the enrolment fee, under Section 15 of Advocates Welfare Act, 2001, as per the request made vide letter dated June 30, by the Trustee Committee. Nonetheless, the Advocates Welfare Trust Committee is going to convene a meeting in a month and their priorities will be adjusted looking to the availability of the funds and demands of the existing members and new members.
KC Mittal, Chairman of the Bar Council of Delhi, submitted that the Bar Council of Delhi has given a total assistance of Rs 8.22 crores and it is exploring further possibilities of giving more benefits like social security and insurance policy to its members.
The matter has been listed for next hearing on August 10.
-India Legal Bureau