Delhi High Court Bar Association Implements Pandemic Relief Scheme to Provide Financial Aid to COVID-19 Affected Members [READ SCHEME]

The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) has decided to implement the Delhi High Court Bar Association Pandemic Relief Scheme 2021 to provide ex gratia relief to its member Advocates and their relatives who have been hit by COVID-19. 

The Delhi High Court Bar Association Pandemic Relief Scheme 2021 will come into effect from July 1, 2021, to disburse the donations received by the Association in the Delhi High Court Bar Association Pandemic Relief Fund. 

The Bar Council of Delhi in May 2021, through what was regarded as one of the most extensive covid relief drives by any bar association in the country, had provided financial assistance worth Rs. 3.5 crores to its member Advocates and their next of kin who were adversely affected by COVID-19. 

The Association had also launched a crowdfunding initiative and set up the ‘Delhi High Court Bar Association Pandemic Relief Fund’ to collect the donation money for the relief and rehabilitation of member Advocates. The Association having received generous donations decided to put into effect the Pandemic Relief Scheme of 2021 to disburse the donation so received to help their colleagues financially impacted by the pandemic. 

Members who desire to avail of the benefit under the Delhi High Court Bar Association Pandemic Relief Scheme 2021 would be required to make applications by email to Covid19.dhcba@gmail.com in the prescribed format along with the required documents as specified in the format. 

The Delhi High Court Bar Association Pandemic Relief Scheme 2021 provides financial assistance worth Rs. 1,50,000/- to the next of kin of a Member of the Association who succumbed to COVID-19, worth Rs.75,000/- to such Members of the Association whose immediate family members succumbed to COVID-19, worth Rs.50,000/- to such Members of the Association who have undergone hospitalization as a consequence of being infected by COVID-19, and financial assistance worth Rs. 25,000/- to such Members of the Association who were compelled to undergo home quarantine as a consequence of being infected by COVID-19. 

The Scheme also provides financial assistance worth Rs.15,000/- to any such Member of the Association who is less than 32 years of age and has been, in the opinion of the Executive Committee (of the Delhi High Court Bar Association), severely financially impacted as a consequence of being infected by COVID-19.

In a statement issued by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA), it was made clear that the quantum of disbursal of ex gratia relief to a beneficiary under the Scheme shall be decided by the Executive Committee of the DHCBA in its absolute discretion on a case-to-case basis. 

[READ SCHEME]