The Jammu and Kashmir administration has extended financial aid to help lawyers whose livelihoods have been affected amid the ongoing national lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19.
To this end, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, GC Murmu, has handed over Rs 1 crore to the Registrar General of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
The Jammu and Kashmir government is the first in the country to extend such financial aid.
Even as the first phase of the lockdown was ongoing, requests were made on behalf of lawyers to their respective government and authorities for aid to help needy advocates tide over the standstill in work.
Recently, the Allahabad High Court intervened for needy lawyers in the State and directed the Bar Council of India to release the funds allocated to the Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh on or before April 27, 2020 to facilitate schemes to help such advocates during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry decided to set up a special fund for the purpose, which has now raised over Rs 1.12 crores, with Rs 45 lakhs being raised yesterday following a contribution made for the Bar Council of India Advocates Welfare Committee.
Earlier this month the Bombay Bar Association Trust also intimated that it would provide monetary assistance to lawyers who are struggling financially during the lockdown.
In Karnataka, the State Junior Advocates Association (KSJAA) has written to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, asking him to consider the release of Rs 25 crore to the KSBC COVID -19 Advocates Relief Fund. Further, the Advocates Association of Bangalore has also asked members of the Bar to extend financial assistance to needy young lawyers.
Feature image source: Twitter
