The Bar Council of India declared the results of the ’18th Bar Council of India Qualifying Examination for Indian Nationals Holding Foreign Law Degrees’ today, just hours before the Supreme Court agreed to hear a Writ Petition challenging the non-declaration of the result despite a five-month lapse.
Following an urgent request from Advocate Yajur Bhalla, the Vacation Bench of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Rajesh Bindal agreed to list the Writ Petition seeking direction to the Bar Council of India to declare the result on June 9, 2023. The Court was told that the candidates would be unable to take the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). According to the writ petition, the BCI’s delay harmed the rights of more than 75 candidates to practise as Advocates.
Petitioner Anchita Nayyar stated in the Writ Petition filed through Advocate-on-Record Shubham Bhalla that the said exams were held at the BCI office from December 19 to December 24, 2022. However, even after more than five months, the results of more than 75 candidates, including the petitioner, had not been announced.
“Petitioner has filed this petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India for the issuance of a “Writ of Mandamus” commanding the respondent to declare the result of the 18th INHFLD exam”, read the plea.
Nayyar also stated that the BCI personally assured them that the results would be released within a week, but this has yet to be done. According to the Petitioner, despite numerous attempts, including phone calls, emails, and physical visits, the BCI failed to provide assistance or respond to the Petitioner’s concerns.
Also Read
It was also stated that BCI’s unjustified and inexplicable delay in announcing the results of the 18th INHFLD examination defies expectations and lacks justification, especially given its significant role as a vital entity within the judicial system. “BCI has completely turned a blind eye as even after the petitioner and other several candidates sought the assistance of Senior Advocate Indira Jaising on 12.05.2023, who subsequently penned an open letter to the Chairman of the Bar Council of India urging prompt release of the results, a significant period has elapsed without any response from the BCI,” the plea stated.
The Petitioner had requested that the Supreme Court issue the necessary direction to declare the result without further delay and within the time frame specified by the Court.
Under similar circumstances, the Bar Council of India released the XVII All India Bar Examination (AIBE) results in April, just days after the Supreme Court issued a Writ Petition directing the BCI to declare the results in a timely manner.
Anchita Nayyar vs. The Bar Council of India [WP(C) No.619/23] is the name of the case.
