Delhi HC asks Delhi Govt to purchase insurance policies under CM's Advocates Welfare Scheme

The Delhi High Court has asked the Aam Aadmi Party-Government to proceed with the purchase of insurance policies for Delhi-based advocates verified by the Bar Council of Delhi under the Chief Minister’s Advocates Welfare Scheme. (Bar Council of Delhi vs GNCTD, Govind Swaroop vs GNCTD).As per the Court's order, the purchase of the policies shall be effected on or before November 30, 2020. .Rejection of bid to result in delay: Delhi HC directs Delhi govt to negotiate with insurance cos to implement CM Advocates Welfare Scheme.The order was passed by by a Single Judge Bench of Justice Prathiba M Singh in petitions concerning the implementation of the CM Advocates' Welfare Scheme. The Court is also considering if the Welfare Scheme would include NCR-based advocates who are registered with the Bar Council of Delhi. .Group (term) life-insurance policies for 28,774 lawyers are being rolled out by the Life Insurance Corporation of India at a final quotation of Rs 10,07,70,894..For group medi-claim insurance policies for 29,077 advocates, New Indian Assurance Company Limited has been finalized at a final rate of Rs 10,500 as per family premium, along with 25% co-payment by advocate concerned.."The rates quoted above are slightly higher than which were quoted in November and December 2019, however, since the figures are within the overall approved budget of the Delhi Government at this stage, the same are being approved by this Court.", the Court clarified. .Increased premium rate will defeat the purpose of CM Advocates Welfare Scheme: Delhi HC directs meeting of stakeholders.Since the present order only pertains to advocates based in the national capital, Delhi Government apprehended that if the CM Welfare Scheme is extended to NCR advocates, the approved budgetary allocation could be exceeded. .The Court, however, stated that the issue would be decided at the time of the final hearing and at that stage, the question of budgetary allocation would also be considered..Each of beneficiary lawyer would be given a letter by the insurance companies concerned specifying the policies purchased for their benefit..The Chief Minister’s Advocates Welfare Scheme was approved by the Delhi Government earlier this year. The Scheme proposes rolling out Group (Term) Insurance, Group Medi-Claim, e-library and creche for advocates in Delhi. The corpus of the Scheme is Rs 50 crore..CM’s Advocates Welfare Scheme: Committee proposes Group Term Insurance, Group Medi-Claim, e-library, creche for advocates. The matter would be heard next on November 6. .Read the Order: