In a groundbreaking announcement today, the Bar Council of India (BCI) informed the Supreme Court that final year law students will be allowed to register for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE XIX) scheduled for November 25, 2024. This decision came after the Supreme Court reviewed a petition against an earlier BCI notification that had excluded final year students from registering.
The Supreme Court’s bench, including Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwal, and Justice Manoj Misra, reviewed the BCI’s compliance with a previous court order that mandated the inclusion of final semester law students in the AIBE. The BCI’s counsel assured the bench that the guidelines for next year’s examination were prepared and awaiting stakeholder review. “The rules are ready; we need four weeks to consult with all stakeholders and then present them to the court,” said the BCI counsel.
The move corrects the BCI’s earlier stance, which conflicted with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Bar Council of India v. Bonnie Foi Law College & Ors, that supported the eligibility of final year students to participate in the bar examination. This change is expected to prevent any loss of academic year for final year law students and aligns with constitutional benchmarks set by earlier court decisions.
