Odisha lawyers to get Rs 10,000 sustenance assistance during Covid-19 pandemic

Bhubaneswar: Lawyers in Odisha facing social and financial distress in the time of Covid-19 pandemic would get Rs 10,000 financial assistance each for their sustenance.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has approved the Odisha State Bar Council’s proposal to amend the OSBC Emergency Financial Assistance Rules to this effect. The general council of the BCI approved the rules by council resolution through video conferencing.

The rules were framed and approved by the Special Committee of OSBC and was communicated to BCI by the OSBC secretary. A meeting via video conference was held on May 5 for approval of the rules by the general council of the BCI. 

After due consideration, the council approved the rules in terms of the statutory stipulation of Section-15(3) of the Advocates Act. The said rules come into effect from the date of its approval by the BCI.

Advocate shall be eligible for the financial assistance under these Rules, if he/she fulfills the following criteria:

1. The advocate is in active regular practice at the bar as on the relevant date.

2. The advocate is on the state roll of the Advocates maintained by the State Bar Council.

3. The advocate has cleared All India Bar Examination, if the relevant Rule is applicable to him/her.

4. The advocate being a needy advocate become disable during the extraordinary situation.

5. The advocate is not receiving more than Rs 10,000 per month from the advocates with whom he/she is attached as a junior.

6. The advocate was needy advocate as defined under these Rules before the extraordinary situation.

7. The advocate is a voter of any affiliated Bar Association.

8. The advocate is not a pensioner.

9. The advocate is not in engagement as lawyer by the Government of India/State Government of Odisha or any corporate body or public or private sector with retainer fees.

10. The application for financial assistance should be recommended by the President/Secretary of the concerned Bar Association certifying the eligibility of the advocate for the financial assistance under these Rules.