A writ petition has been filed in the Supreme Court by nine final-year law students from Delhi University, contesting the recent Bar Council of India (BCI) notification that bars final-semester law students from taking the upcoming All India Bar Examination (AIBE-XIX) in November 2024. This notification has raised concerns, as it contradicts the Supreme Court's 2016 ruling in Bar Council of India v. Bonnie FOI Law College, which allowed final-semester students to sit for the exam pending their degree completion.
The petitioners argue that this rule is arbitrary and undermines their career progression. Universities across India follow varied schedules for result declaration, and this delay in the AIBE could severely affect law graduates waiting to pursue their professional careers. The plea claims that the BCI’s decision will lead to unnecessary delays in the start of their legal practice and cause a loss of valuable time.
They seek three primary reliefs: the quashing of the BCI notification, permission for final-semester students to appear for AIBE, and an interim stay on the BCI’s impugned notification. The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, will hear the matter on September 13, 2024.
This case has significant implications for law graduates across India. If the court rules in favour of the petitioners, it could set a precedent, ensuring that future final-year students are not barred from taking the bar exam, facilitating a smoother transition into the legal profession.
Post a Comment