Final year law students can now register for AIBE XIX: BCI informs Supreme Court

A bench consisting of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwal and Manoj Misra, was hearing a complaint challenging an earlier BCI (Bar Council of India) notification that prevented final semester law students from registering for the examination.

Today, BCI’s legal counsel stated that, in accordance with the latest notification, BCI has complied with Art Earlier interim order of the Court to the BCI to enable the petitioners and similarly situated persons to appear for the examination.

“The regulations for the next exam are already ready, we just need to present them to interested parties. Your Lordships may receive it after 4 weeks, we should be able to present it,” the solicitor added.

Taking into account the above, the adjudicating panel in its decision –

“The petitioners and similarly positioned candidates who are pursuing their final year of LLB studies have been granted permission to register with AIBE which will be held on November 25, 2024. BCI General Counsel states that rules in this regard have been prepared and are now being applied in during consultations with interested parties. Discharge after 4 weeks.”

The petitioners had already argued that the BCI’s decision was contrary to the judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal of December 30, 2010 Bar Council of India v. Bonnie Foi Law College & Ors according to which final year law students should have the opportunity to appear in AIBE. The Bar Council of India has also said it needs time to frame rules for final-year law students. The board said it may take some time to sort out the rules but it should ensure that final-year law students do not lose a year.

The case will now be decided in November

Case Details: Case Details: Nilay Rai & Ors V Bar Council of India| WP(C)No. 577 of 2024