Not feasible to hold AIBE through online mode: BCI tells Delhi High Court

The Bar Council of India (BCI) today informed the Delhi High Court that it is not feasible to hold All India Bar Examination (AIBE) through online mode. (Purav Midha vs BCI).The process to hold the examination through physical mode on November 8 has begun, BCI said. .AIBE to be conducted on November 8, BCI announces schedule .The statement was made by counsel for BCI before a Single Judge Bench of Justice Jayant Nath. .The Court was hearing a petition preferred by Advocate Purav Middha for conduct of this year's AIBE through online mode. .Delhi HC issues notice in plea for conducting AIBE through online mode amid COVID-19 pandemic.Apart from raising concerns of COVID-19, the Petitioner had submitted that the delay in conducting AIBE was detrimental to the interests of young advocates who held a provisional enrollment certificate which is valid only for two years..In response, Advocate Preet Pal Singh, counsel for BCI said that the grievances raised by the Petitioner has been taken care of by the General Council of BCI. .As per the Resolution passed by the General Council last month, the issue of conducting AIBE by online mode was discussed and deliberated upon and it was found that the same was not feasible. .BCI rejected the option of conducting AIBE through online mode on the ground that most lawyers did not stay in metro cities or in even class-1 cities and would thus face issues with respect to internet speed and connectivity. .As far as the issue of expiry of provisional certificates was concerned, Advocate Singh stated that the BCI has resolved to exempt the period ranging from March 24, 2020 to March 31, 2021..Therefore, while calculating the two-year deadline given to young advocates to clear AIBE, the period from March 24, 2020 to March 31, 2021 shall not be considered. .In view of the above, Singh pressed that the petition be disposed of. .Petitioner-in-person, Purav Middha, however, stated that along with the issue of conducting AIBE through online mode, the issue of extension of benefits under welfare schemes of State Bar Council etc to provisionally enroll advocates was still open. .Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman, BCI added that the Supreme Court was already hearing a suo-moto petition on welfare schemes for advocates amid COVID-19. .Financial assistance for lawyers amid COVID-19: Supreme Court acknowledges "dire situation"; issues notice in suo motu matter, BCI plea.Since the counter-affidavit filed by BCI was not on record, the Court adjourned the matter till October 22.