Five Bar Councils of North Eastern India Calls for the Distributions of Financial Assistances to the Lawyers

Covid19 Pandemic is worsening all over the world. At the time of lockdown in India, the Bar Council of North Eastern India namely Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim have formulated a scheme to give financial aid to support the livelihood of the Lawyers.

Advocates are facing a pitiable condition without having any source of income from the day lockdown started. At present, an amount up to Rs. 5,000/- would be given as a one-time measure of financial assistance from the Bar Council of these states.

This shall apply to the advocates enrolled with the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. This scheme shall come into effect after the approval by the Bar Council of India. The Bar Council of these states created a fund by the name of the same for granting assistance to the Lawyers enrolled. It will be distributed through a nationalized bank.

Eligibility Criteria for The Financial Aid

1. The applicant should be enrolled with the Bar Council of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
2. The applicant should be in active practice.
3. The applicant should have passed the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) if the AIBE is mandatory for him/her.
4. The applicants should not be an income tax payee.
5. The applicant should not have any other source of income.
6. The applicant should not receive any pension or any kind of remittance from any company, bank, public sector undertaking, government, semi-government body/ authority/ institution/ university/ college etc.
7. The applicant should not be dependent on his/ her parents(s)
8. If the applicant is married his/ her spouse should not have any source of income, pension or any kind or any remittance.

The applicant should not be:

1. Standing Counsel/ Government,
2. Advocate
3. Government Pleader
4. Public Prosecutor
5. Additional Public Prosecutor
6. Assistant Public Prosecutor
7. Retainer Advocate
8. Counsel, etc.

of any company/ bank/ Public Sector Undertaking / Government/ semi–Government/ body/ authority/ institution/ university/ college,  etc. or a Notary.

The applicants who have not received any sort of assistance/ aid/ benefit from any Bar Association due to the Covid19 pandemic shall get preference under this scheme.

The Advocates Act, 1961 enjoins upon the Bar Councils, including the State Bar Councils constituted under Section 3 of the Act, to act for the welfare of and in the interest of advocates. Section 6(1)(d) of the said Act manifests the safeguarding of the rights, privileges and interests of advocates on its role as one of the functions of a State Bar Council. Section 6(2)(a) of the said Act lays down that a State Bar Council may constitute one or more funds in the prescribed manner to give financial assistance to organize welfare schemes for the indigent advocates.

The last date of receipt of applications under this scheme, either by email or in person or by Speed Post/ Registered Post/ courier is on 07 May 2020.

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