Newly enrolled advocates have moved the Delhi High Court challenging their exclusion from the Bar Council of Delhi electoral roll, arguing that the pendency of AIBE results cannot be a valid ground to deny their voting rights today.
A group of newly registered advocates has approached the Delhi High Court to contest their exclusion from the electoral roll for the upcoming Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) elections.
These lawyers were excluded on the basis that they have not yet officially passed the All India Bar Examination (AIBE), as the results are still pending.
The petitioners assert they have passed the AIBE XX, relying on the provisional answer key made available on December 3, 2025.
They argue that the pending AIBE results or the lack of a Certificate of Practice should not serve as grounds for disqualification under the Bar Council of India (BCI) Rules.
The petition contends that these young lawyers are being unjustly penalized for administrative delays, as the BCI has not conducted the AIBE twice a year, contrary to the AIBE Rules, 2010.
In preparation for the elections, the BCD had previously issued a public notice requiring advocates to submit online Declarations/Verification Forms.
However, in a subsequent list dated December 18, 2025, the petitioners discovered their names listed under “Not Verified,” marked with the note “AIBE Not Passed.”
The All India Bar Examination (AIBE) is a national-level certification test conducted by the Bar Council of India for law graduates who wish to practice as advocates in Indian courts.
The exam assesses a candidate’s basic understanding of law and analytical skills across various subjects, including constitutional law, criminal law, civil procedures, and professional ethics. Only after passing the AIBE do candidates receive the Certificate of Practice (CoP), which legally allows them to appear before courts.