Bar Council of India launches One-Time Special Relief Scheme 2025 to help Punjab and Haryana bar associations recover from recent floods. The initiative aims to support the legal community in rebuilding and overcoming damages caused by heavy rainfall.
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has introduced the One-Time Special Relief Scheme, 2025, aimed at assisting bar associations in Punjab and Haryana affected by recent floods. This initiative seeks to support the legal community’s recovery from the extensive damage caused by floods and heavy rainfall this year.
The scheme provides immediate financial assistance for repairing and restoring bar association infrastructure. Eligible district-level bar associations can receive a one-time grant of up to Rs.2,00,000, while sub-divisional associations are eligible for Rs.1,00,000.
This financial aid is a grant and not a loan, making it non-refundable, as noted in the BCI’s announcement.
According to the scheme’s guidelines,
“Applications under this scheme should be submitted by eligible Bar Associations within 60 days from the date of announcement of this scheme. The Committee may consider late applications only in exceptional cases,”
Recognizing the loss of green cover due to the floods, the scheme also allocates an additional grant of Rs.10,000 for each district bar association and Rs.5,000 for each sub-divisional association, specifically for tree planting and maintenance.
Applications must be submitted by the respective Bar Association through a resolution passed by its executive committee, along with an expert certificate detailing the damage and any other required supporting documents. Once approved, the financial aid will be transferred directly to the official bank account of the Bar Association, either via electronic transfer or account payee cheque.
Bar Associations are required to submit a utilization report, including photographs and descriptions of the work completed, within three months of receiving the grant to ensure accountability and transparency.
The scheme clarifies that “floods” encompass excessive rainfall and waterlogging, allowing the Advocates Welfare Committee to extend benefits in these instances.
The Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana has been instructed to swiftly circulate the scheme and forward verified applications with recommendations for prompt sanction and disbursal of the relief.
Advocate Suvir Sidhu, Chairman of the Bar Council of India Advocates Welfare Committee and Member-Representative of BCI from Punjab and Haryana, stated that the Bar Council of India and the Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana stand with the Bar Associations and members of the legal fraternity of Punjab & Haryana during this crucial time.