Delhi HC To Hear Plea Seeking BCI To Conduct All India Bar Exam Through Online Mode

The AIBE was originally scheduled to be conducted on August 16. However, by a notification dated 30/07/20, the BCI cancelled the scheduled date without providing a fresh date for holding the exam.

Filed by Mr Purav Middha, the petition also seeks grace period to be granted to candidates holding provisionally enrolled enrollment certificate starting from March 21, 2020 i.e. from commencement of lockdown till the next date of examination.

The Petitioner has contended that the BCI has conducted no examination for almost 11 months now which violates rights of a candidate under Article 14, 16 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.

'Bar Council of India is totally ignorant about the well being of young lawyers holding provisionally enrolled Certificate and also violates their rights under the Constitution', the Petitioner has argued.

The Petitioner has also challenged the policy of the BCI of not extending the benefits of the Welfare Fund to young lawyers. He has sought court's direction to the BCI to give financial aid to needy young lawyers (provisionally enrolled) and get benefit of Welfare Scheme if required during this pandemic situation.

The petition states:

'When the BCI was aware of the situation, it should've conducted the online Open Book Examination instead of the physical examination by getting in touch with the National Informatics Centre.'