COVID-19: Bar body urges governments to provide financial assistance to lawyers

A bar body has urged the central and state governments to provide financial assistance to lawyers considering their loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has forced the closure of courts.

The bar body also urged the central government to direct nationalised banks to provide loans to lawyers at a concessional rate of interest.

The Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad (ABAP) said in a resolution “The central government shall allot and transfer sufficient amount to the Bar Council of India for providing financial assistance to the needy lawyers. Those state governments which have not provided any money to state bar councils till today for the financial assistance of lawyers should immediately disburse sufficient amount to the respective bar councils.”

According to ABAP, lawyers, especially the ones in trial courts, are bearing the brunt and facing serious financial crisis due to closure of courts as they have no permanent or fixed income for lawyers. Also, benefits such as pension, Provident Fund or ESI (Employees’ State Insurance) are out of bounds. The resolution also added that free rations and such other benefits will be available to 99% of the lawyers as they are above BPL line.

Stating that the reports of the condition of advocates from various districts were alarming, the ABAP noted that majority of the lawyers were struggling for the dignified existence of their family in this Corona period. Even though various bar councils and some state governments have extended limited financial assistance to lawyers, it was not sufficient, it said.

ABAP said it has submitted a representation to the Union finance minister for appropriate directions to the banks for providing loan at concessional rate of interest.

The ABAP in another resolution said that the internet connections were not proper, and put light on the lack of video conferencing facilities, e-library, even in the district court complexes. It added that this is the right time to install/upgrade the e-infrastructure at all court centres to help the legal system for effective transformation to discharge its functions.

It also demanded the establishment of medical dispensaries at all court centres, at least at the district level, and high courts.

It may be recalled that the Bar Council of India (BCI) had moved a similar plea with the Supreme Court, under the Article 32 of the Constitution, for direction to the Centre, states and Union Territories to arrange financial assistance, by way of interest-free loan of up to Rs. 3 lakhs each to advocates enrolled with the respective Bar Council. This loan, it said, should be repayable in reasonable monthly instalments at least 12 months after normal court functioning commences.