Advocates Write To BCI Seeking Reduction In AIBE Application Fee Amid Pandemic [Read Letter]

Delhi based Advocates, Ashok Soni and Parshant Gupta have written a letter to the BCI, elaborating the plight of lawyers due to Covid induced lockdown and have therefore urged the Council to reduce the AIBE fee for this year.

"The main rationale for writing this letter is to accentuate the unfortunate condition of the fresh enrolled lawyers (includes those who are going to seat in AIBE 2020). This is the high time when the condition of well-settled advocates, who are practicing since long years become helpless presently before this pandemic, then it's not a tough task to imagine the unpleasant situation of fresh enrolled lawyers, who are obliged to pay high AIBE fee," the letter states.

It proceeds to highlight that whereas application fees as charged by the Central/ State Government for competitive examinations ranges upto Rs. 1,000, the BCI charges a hefty amount of Rs. 3,500/- for application to the AIBE.

"Paying Rs. 3500/- for AIBE isn't a manageable amount for fresh enrolled lawyers during pandemic," the Advocates assert.

The letter adds,

"The fresh enrolled lawyers, who are sitting at home since March 2020, facing various hardships already, in such time the burden of paying Rs. 3,500/-(Thirty five hundred) will also integrate an impression of mental pressure upon these fresh enrolled lawyers."

In these circumstances, the Advocates have urged the Council to display some "much-needed resilience" to the freshly enrolled Advocates by "shouldering moral professional responsibility" and charging nominal application fee.

The examination date for AIBE has not been notified yet. Previously, it was to be held on 16.08.2020. However, in light of the "present pandemic situation and frequent lockdown, increasing number of Corona patients daily", the BCI resolved to postpone the date.

The date for receipt of applications was also postponed and the BCI is accepting applications until August 31, 2020.

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