The Supreme Court issued directives to ensure visually impaired candidates receive a fair opportunity to appear for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE). The guidelines aim to provide necessary accommodations, such as scribes and accessible materials, to eliminate barriers faced by these candidates. This decision emphasizes inclusivity and equal access to professional opportunities within the legal field. The move is a step toward fostering fairness in legal examinations.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court issued directives to ensure that “visually impaired individuals have a meaningful and effective opportunity” to take the All India Bar Examination (AIBE), scheduled for later this month.
The Bar Council of India (BCI), which conducts the exam, has been instructed to provide paid screen reading software at its own expense. This decision follows a Writ Petition filed by three visually impaired candidates, two of whom were dissatisfied with the BCI’s lack of response regarding facilities for visually impaired test-takers.
Just two days prior, on December 3, the BCI had permitted visually impaired candidates to take the exam on a computer; however, they were only allowed to read the questions and were required to use a scribe to mark their answers.
A two-Judge Bench, consisting of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, directed the BCI to allow the use of the screen reading software Job Access with Speech, as suggested by the petitioners. The court also permitted candidates to use their own keyboards, if not laptops, and to answer questions directly on the computer rather than through a scribe.
Additionally, the Bench ordered that all preparations for the exam should be completed one day before the test, instead of the two hours previously stipulated by the BCI.
After the Bench issued the order, Advocate Rahul Bajaj, representing the petitioners, requested clarification that candidates should be allowed to use screen reading software of their choice, as not all may afford the proposed paid software.
Justice Surya Kant responded,
“We will say ‘at the cost of BCI’.”
Although BCI’s counsel protested, Justice Kant dismissed the argument about funding, stating,
“Ultimately, where do you get funds from? From lawyers only… Whatever you spend, you will recover.”
Earlier in the hearing, Justice Kant remarked,
“There is no dearth of money. It is overflowing, the Bar Council of India. They are looking for excuses not to spend money. We know it as a matter of fact. Whatever he is asking, you provide it immediately within two days.”
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Rahul Bajaj noted that the BCI already agreed to provide soft copies of Bare Acts to visually impaired candidates, which has been allowed since 2021.
The petitioners argue that allowing them to mark their own answers, rather than relying on a scribe, gives them greater control and reduces the risk of errors.
Rahul Bajaj emphasized,
“We want to be doing it independently,”
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