SCBA to extend financial aid for members afflicted by COVID-19, in cases of untimely death, those in need of financial assistance

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has notified that it would extend financial aid to members who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. .The grant of aid would vary depending upon whether the person was hospitalised and how long the person has undergone hospitalization on account of COVID-19..These benefits, extended under the SCBA Covid-19 Grant Scheme, 2021, would be granted only to members whose average taxable income for the financial years 2016-17 or 2017-18 or 2018- 19 is less than Rs 10,00,000 (ten lakh)..The scheme is available to members who have been afflicted with the virus on or after March 1, 2021..The amounts payable to eligible members are as follows:.1. Any member diagnosed with COVID-19 and who provides certification would be eligible for a one-time grant of Rs 25,000.2. Any member hospitalized up to 7 days on account of COVID shall be eligible to a further grant of Rs 25,000 in addition to the sum mentioned in clause 1.3. Any member hospitalized between 8-14 days due to COVID shall be eligible for a further sum of Rs 50,000 in addition to the sum mentioned in clause 1.4. Any member who has been hospitalized for 15-21 days due to COVID-19 would be eligible for a further grant of Rs 75,000 in addition to the sum mentioned in clause 1.5. Any member who has been hospitalized for over 21 days due to COVID would be eligible for a further grant of Rs 1 lakh in addition to the sum mentioned in clause 1..Eligible members have to send their application to scbacovidgrant2021@gmail.com in the form prescribed in the notification..[Read Notification].By another notification, the SCBA has also intimated that financial assistance would be extended in the case of the untimely death of a member. This aid is being provided under the SCBA General Assistance Scheme, 2021. The notification details:.An ex-gratia sum of Rs 5 lakhs would be payable to the family if the deceased member was less than 50 years at the time of death; An ex-gratia sum of Rs 2.5 lakhs would be payable to the family if the deceased member was more than 50 years but less than 65 years; An ex-gratia sum of Rs 1 lakh would be payable to the family if the deceased member was more than 65 years; Moreover, any member who has been hospitalized due to critical illness or injury would be eligible to get 50% of the bill paid, subject to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh as such aid..Further details regarding eligibility are outlined in the notification issued on May 12. Eligible members can reach out at scbageneralassistance2021@gmail.com ..[Read the Notification].A third notification speaks of ex grants financial assistance to SCBA members under the SCBA Covid-19 Financial Assistance Scheme, given that members of the Bar have been suffering financially owing to the lockdown and loss of work at courts. .This fund has been pooled from the voluntary donations made by SCBA members..Under this scheme, financial assistance of either Rs 25,000 or Rs 50,000 is being given depending on the member’s taxable income..Eligible members can send an email in the prescribed format to scbafinancialassistance2021@gmail.com ..More details are available in the notification, which may be read below..[Read the Notification]