SCBA announces financial assistance grant for members in need amid COVID-19 Lockdown

The SCBA has introduced a financial assistance scheme for its members who are in need of monetary assistance on account of the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme envisages providing a one-time ex-gratia grant of aid to needy lawyers. (SCBA COVID-19 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND GRANT SCHEME, 2020).The “COVID-19 Financial Assistance and Grant Scheme” will extend its benefits to applicants whose names featured in the SCBA voters list during the years 2015 to 2019 and who are in dire need of financial assistance..Eligible members seeking the aid will have to send an application to the Supreme Court Bar Associtation (SCBA) while giving undertakings on certain prescribed parameters. The members who have an annual income of less than Rs 8 lakh per annum will be considered for the scheme. As such, documents concerning the IT returns of preceding years will have to be affixed with the application..In April this year, the SCBA had introduced a loan scheme for its members. Lawyers seeking to apply for the grant under the latest scheme have also been asked to declare if they had availed the benefit extended under the previous loan scheme launched in April, either by SCBA or under other schemes by any other body..SCBA sets up COVID-19 Helpline Scheme to provide financial assistance to lawyers .The notice signed off by the Secretary, Advocate Rohit Pandey, says that the identity of the beneficiaries will remain confidential and that the applications submitted will be scrutinised by the Executive Committee before granting the assistance. .Through this scheme a one-time ex-gratia amount of Rs 20,000 will be released into the Bank account of the beneficiaries whose applications are approved by the Executive Committee..Funds for this scheme are constituted out of the voluntary donations made by other members, it is added. The SCBA's funds are not being used for the same, the notice clatifies.."The one time financial assistance is being offered by the SCBA as an ex gratia benefit limited to a sum of Rs. 20,000/-from the generous and voluntary donations made my members of the SCBA for this purpose... The financial resources of the SCBA are not being used for this Scheme."SCBA notice says..The last date for receipt of application is fixed at June 3 and the application form for the same is available on SCBA's website..SCAORA resolves to introduce new financial scheme for the period between May 18 and May 31.Read Notice: