Bar Council Of Tamil Nadu Writes To TN Chief Minister Seeking Financial Assistance To Needy & Suffering Advocates During COVID

The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry on Saturday (May 22) wrote to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin seeking financial assistance to the Needy Advocates who are financially suffering due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Thanking the Chief Minister for announcing a Solatium of Rs. 25 lakhs to the family members of the Thirunelveli Chief Judicial Magistrate who died after testing positive for Covid-19, the letter avers that several Advocates lost their lives due to Covid-19 and their braved family members are suffering without any financial assistance.

The Council has informed the Chief Minister that the Covid-19 pandemic has effectively brought the normal life of all persons including Advocates particularly young and women Advocates practicing in Tamilnadu to halt due to the periodical lock-down.

The letter further states that several Hundred of Advocates died due to Covid-19 without joining as a member in the Tamilnadu Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme and hence the Bar Council is unable to pay any amount to the family members of those Advocates and thereby they are suffering without any financial assistance. 

Importantly, the letter states,

"Moreover, huge numbers of Advocates and their family members are undergoing treatment for Covid-19 infection and those who are taking treatment in private hospitals are not able to bear the Medical expenses and their lives are in a dangerous situation. Therefore the needy Advocates may be included under the 'Tamilnadu Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme' and save their lives."

Further, stating that the High Court of Madras has issued a notification to close down all the Courts in Tamilnadu and Puducherry, the letter submits that the Advocates are not able to appear before the Court and they are prohibited from entering Court Complex.

It further goes on to state that several Bar/Advocates Associations have informed the Council that most of the Advocates are financially suffering due to the lockdown and finding it difficult to make ends meet and it is highly necessary to provide financial assistance to that Advocatesat this juncture. 

Therefore, the Council has requested the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu:

1. To pay Solatium to the family members of the Advocates died due to Covid-19 who have not joined as members in the Tamilnadu Advocates Welfare Fund Act, 1987,
2. To include all the needy Advocates and their family members under the "Tamilnadu Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme"and provide them Medical aid in order to save their lives and
3. To provide financial assistance to the Needy Advocates who are financially suffering due to the Covid-19 Pandemic as early as possible and the Advocates and their family members will be grateful to the Hon'ble Chief Minister forever for the gracious timely help for them.

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