Fifth AIBE held; Exam postponed in Vizag due to unrest over State bifurcation

The fifth All India Bar Exam (AIBE-V) was held yesterday in 38 cities across the country. As per the Chairman of the Bar Council of India (BCI) Manan Kumar Mishra, around 25,000 students appeared for the exam..The exam, which was initially scheduled for July 14, had been postponed to August 25 citing the convenience of candidates enrolling in June and July. The BCI had also sanctioned Pune as one of the 4 examination centres in Maharashtra in June this year..The first 3 editions of the exam were conducted by Rainmaker. Thereafter, the BCI did not renew its contract with Rainmaker choosing instead to conduct AIBE-IV with the assistance of ITES Horizon Private Limited (ITES). The BCI has confirmed that it was assisted by ITES for AIBE-V as well..As has been the case with previous editions of the AIBE, AIBE IV had also got entangled in controversy when the results of 470 candidates, who gave the fourth AIBE were changed from “pass” to “fail”, forcing these candidates to sit for AIBE-V. Also, no study materials were provided for AIBE-V and the candidates had to carry their own reference books for the exam..Further, the exam was postponed in Vishakapatanam on the request of the Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Bar Council due to the “ongoing agitation in Rayalseema and Andhra Region over bifurcation of State”. The notification regarding the same also stated that,.“Those students of Rayalseema region, i.e. Anantpur, Chitoor, Cudupah and Kurnool districts who opted Hyderabad as Centre and those who would be unable to reach Hyderabad due to agitation, a separate examination at Vishakapatanam centre will be held. The date of such examination will be informed in advance. The examination in Hyderabad city in various centres will be conducted as per schedule on 25th August, 2013.”.Speaking to Bar & Bench, BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra said that.“The exam was held smoothly in all the centres across the country except Vishakapatanam, where the exam had to be cancelled due to the agitation over Telengana issue. The decision to cancel the exam was taken at an emergency meeting of the BCI convened on Saturday.”.Regarding study materials Mishra said that,.“Since it is an open book system there is no requirement of study materials. Also an additional Rs. 500 to 600 would have to be charged if study materials are to be provided.”.“The results of the exam would be declared by the third week of September”, he added..Bar & Bench spoke to a few candidates who had written the exam in Kochi. Queries on the question paper and the exam in general evoked near similar responses from them..Tanya Joy had this to say: “The question paper was not very easy as there was paucity of time. Many questions could be answered using the bare Acts. The study materials and model questions papers of the previous years were not helpful.”.Rinie Rajan Mathews who wrote the exam in Kochi said: “Questions were mostly direct and there were not many application level questions. The entire syllabus was covered though and questions were asked from even professional ethics. Lots of questions were based on case laws and definitions. However, nothing much was asked from the previous years’ study materials.”.Diljith Manohar had this to say: “The BCI was not responsible enough to supply preparatory materials despite the fact that it is collecting a considerable amount from the candidates as examinations fees. The previous years’ preparatory materials are outdated and not helpful. However, the fact that there is no negative marking is a blessing. Most questions were based on academic syllabus.”