Attempt Made For AoR Exam In 2021 Won't Be Treated As An Attempt Since It Was COVID Year : CJI DY Chandrachud

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Friday (May 17) announced that the Supreme Court has taken a decision not to treat the attempt made in the Advocates-on-Record exam in 2021 as an attempt since it was during the period of COVID-19 pandemic.

CJI made this announcement during the farewell function for Justice AS Bopanna.

"We have taken a decision which I am sure will do credit to Mr. Bopanna being truly lawyer's and people's judge. We have decided today that an attempt during 2021 (covid year) for the Advocates-on-record examination shall not be treated as an attempt so that lawyers who would have lost the ability to appear again for the exam will be eligible to appear now. Covid after all being a covid year"

As per the Regulations regarding the Advocates-on-Record Examination, the current number of chances to appear for the AOR examination is five. However, the examination conducted in 2021 will not be treated as a chance; as a “one-time relaxation,” another chance will be given to the eligible candidates.

To that effect, the Supreme Court (on May 17) has also issued a circular reading:

“Regulation 11(iv) of the Regulations regarding Advocates-on-Record Examination reads as under.

"A candidate shall not be allowed more than five chances at the examination. Appearance even in any one of the papers in an examination shall be deemed to be a chance."

However, considering the fact that the Covid pandemic afflicted the world in the years 2020 and 2021, the Competent Authority has been pleased to direct that the Advocates-on-Record Examination held in December, 2021 shall not be reckoned as a chance while counting the permissible five chances under Regulation 11(iv). Accordingly, as one-time relaxation, one more chance will be given to the eligible candidates on the basis of their result in the last examination they appeared at.

As further directed, this one-time relaxation as regards non-reckoning of attempt made at the Advocates-on-Record Examination-December, 2021 while counting the permissible five chances, will not be treated as a precedent and the provisions contained in Regulation 11(iv) of the Regulations regarding Advocates-on- Record Examination shall be binding on all prospective candidates at the Advocates- on-Record Examinations to be held in the years to come.”