‘Release funds from PM CARES and Contingency Funds to aid Advocates in distress due to COVID-19’: BCD writes to PM

On Wednesday, The letter undersigned by Chairman K C Mittal was send to the PM Narendra Modi, Bar Council of Delhi has requested release of funds to the tune of ₹500 crores from the Contingency Fund of India as well as PM CARES Fund to aid Advocates in distress due to COVID-19 of Delhi NCR region as the legal community in Delhi NCR area is facing severe financial crisis in wake of the pandemic which warrants urgent assistance from the government.

In the letter, it has been requested to the Prime Minister to utilise Contingency Fund citing Media Reports which state that an amount of ₹8000 crores is lying in the same for the assistance of Advocates as part of ‘COVID19 Relief’ as despite the efforts of the Bar Council of Delhi, which has released around ₹8 crores for the relief of Advocates, there are still many Advocates who are suffering and finding it hard to sustain themselves and meet ends.

The letter read:

‘In such an emergent and disastrous situation, the citizens cannot be left high and dry. The framers of the Constitution had visualised such emergent and disastrous situation and have provided a provision in the Constitution for such times in the form of the Contingency Fund being available to the Central Government and State Government to overcome such situations.’

By Anushka Saxena