The Supreme Court Today (April 29th) declined to entertain a plea seeking the postponement of the Chartered Accountant exams (CA exam) held by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court decided against delaying the Chartered Accountant (CA) exams organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), which coincide with the upcoming Lok Sabha election dates in certain states.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, leading the bench, emphasized that any alteration in the exam schedule could disrupt the elaborate preparations already in place and potentially cause significant inconvenience to numerous students.
He stated,
“Scheduling of exams pertains to policy decisions. But weighing the importance of right to vote we have examined the proposition of candidates who shall be appearing for exams and would also need to vote. 591 centres are there and no exams on polling dates. At this stage when 4 lakh plus students have enrolled any relief at this stage would result in grave prejudice.”
The court also considered that providing an “opt-out” option for certain exams could negatively impact students aiming to complete their exams in one go.
“We find force in ICAI’s submissions that opt out of options would prejudice those students who take all papers in a single attempt. COVID arrangements stand on a completely different footing as it was a public health crisis. Thus we shall not intervene. Dismissed,”
-the court declared.
The CA exams are set to begin on May 2 and continue until May 17. Some students had requested the postponement of the exams scheduled for May 8 and May 14, as elections are due on May 7 and May 13 in some states.
Representing the concerned CA students, Senior Advocate Madhavi Divan argued,
“There are students from Kalahandi and other rural areas who will not be able to appear for the exams on 8th and 14th May since elections are on. It can be on 7th and 13th May.”
She further explained that the students were not demanding a complete postponement but suggested that an “opt-out” option would be sufficient for those unable to attend on the specific dates.
Divan also proposed increasing the number of examination centers to accommodate students from remote or conflict-affected areas, thus mitigating their travel challenges during the elections.
Opposing any changes to the exam schedule, the ICAI’s counsel highlighted that extensive arrangements have been made to conduct the exams smoothly and that a large number of students are already prepared. He referenced past adjustments made during the COVID pandemic as exceptional and not comparable to the current situation.
The court was reassured by the ICAI that none of the exam dates overlap with election days and noted that adjustments had already been made for some candidates facing logistical issues.
Ultimately, the court sided with the ICAI, stating,
“This is a matter of policy. They (ICAI) are saying they exam dates are not on election date. 4 lakh 36,000 students have enrolled, 591 centres in 290 plus areas. This is not a case for our interference,”
-as articulated by CJI Chandrachud.
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