CA Exams: Supreme Court Directs ICAI To Notify On Website Steps Taken To Address Concerns Raised By Candidates

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) to notify on the website the steps taken by it to address the concerns raised by candidates taking CA exams and the corrective measures taken with respect to such concerns.

A bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar also directed the ICAI to release a press note to inform the candidates of the measures taken by it with respect to the conduct of exam in accordance with the COVID-19 guidelines.

Accordingly, the bench disposed of a writ petition which sought for the formulation of a Standard Operating Procedure for the conduct of the upcoming CA exams.

On the previous date of hearing, the bench had asked Advocate Bansuri Swaraj, the petitioner's counsel, to have a discussion with the counsel of ICAI, Senior Advocate Ramji Srinivasan.

Today, Advocate Swaraj informed the bench that she had a video conference discussion with Senior Advocate Srinivasan regarding the concerns of the candidates.

Srinivasan told the bench that there was a concern raised about some exam centres being in containment zones. 

"We have checked and the four centres which apparently fell in containment zones, have ceased to do so", Srinivasan said in that regard.

He further said that there was a request for conducting exams via online mode, which cannot be accepted.

"My friend also asked if the exams could be taken up online. We cannot do that because the exam format is different and cannot be done in that manner", Srinivasan submitted.

"We are strictly acting in compliance of MHA guidelines. We will not put to risk the students. We cannot however provide isolation rooms and risk with COVID patients coming in and putting others at risk", he added further.

The CA examination is scheduled to be held between November 21, 2020 and December 14, 2020.

The Petitioners have alleged that the ICAI proposes to conduct the examination in absolute violation of the Central Government guidelines which prescribes a cap for candidates per exam hall.

The Petitioners have pointed out that this time, the number of candidates appearing for the CA examination will be significantly higher as the May 2020 round of exam was cancelled and the same has now been merged with the exams due in November.

Thus, it has been urged by the Petitioners that any infraction in the safety and security standards would invariably lead to material infringement of Fundamental Rights of the candidates.