What Steps Taken For Welfare Of Advocates Hit By COVID? Rajasthan High Court Asks State Bar Council

The Rajasthan High Court has asked the Bar Council of Rajasthan about the steps being taken for the welfare of advocates who are affected by COVID-19.

A single bench of Justice Ashok Kumar Gaur posed this query while issuing notice on a petition seeking utilization of the advocates welfare fund for the relief of advocates affected by the pandemic.

The Court has issued notice to the Bar Council of Rajasthan, Rajasthan High Court Bar Association, The Bar Association Jaipur, State Health Department returnable by May 20.

The writ petition was filed by Advocates Jagmeet Singh and Rupendra Suroliya, through Advocates Kapil Bardhar and Rajesh Kumawat, seeking appropriate and judicious use of the Advocates Welfare Fund in view of the prevailing pandemic.

The petitioners pointed out that the State Bar Council has accumulated funds from its members under the head Advocates Welfare Fund. The  fund is a statutory fund and the amounts lying in it can be utilized for the welfare of advocates who are affected by COVID-19.

The petitioners made the following recommendations :

1. Setting up a Dedicated funds towards the establishment of COVID-19 Helpline for the Advocates.

2.A Committee/Nodal officer at each District/City/Bar Association be appointed providing for Functioning of the Covid Helpline for Advocates.

3.To provide for Food/Ration for the Advocates/Members and their family members suffering from COVID-19 for the Quarantine period.

4.To provide for Basic Medicine Supply to its members and their family members suffering from COVID-19 for the Quarantine period.

5.Beds/ Ventilators /ICU /Rooms /Oxygen/ Remdesivir Injection etc should be supplied and made available to COVID-19 positive members admitted in hospitals in collaboration with either the State Government or the Private Hospitals in the State of Rajasthan at Nominal charges for its members for the Quarantine/Treatment period.

6.To provide for Ambulance Services for the Patients or in case of unfortunate event, provide for hearse at Nominal cost to the advocates.

7.Make arrangement of Facility for Testing for Coronavirus at dedicated Centre for its Members.

8.Allocation of funds for the Group life Insurance/Medical Insurance/Chiranjivi Yojna or any other Scheme of the State Government/Private Entities for members/Advocates.

9.Allocation of welfare Funds for its Members who are in financial need during the Covid-19 period on monthly/quarterly or any other period.

10.Provide financial assistance for the treatment taken for the COVID-19 by the advocates.

11.Provide Loan facilities at minimum interest rate in collaboration with the nationalised banks.

12.To formulate schemes and plans for the Assistance to the advocates for Covid-19 treatment in advance for the upcoming third/fourth wave of COVID-19.

13.To invite suggestions/recommendations/Feedback from the advocates for proper and warranted use of Advocates welfare fund in view of COVID19 pandemic.

14.To ensure the Compliance of the action taken by the Committee or the Nodal officer as appointed