ICAI counsel Ramji Srinivasan told a bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar that “there will be no loss of opportunity for the candidates who are out of the July examination”.
While hearing an application seeking a direction to ICAI to conduct backup examination for those CA candidates who dropped out in July 2021 due to difficulties related to COVID, the top court asked the applicants to make a representation to the institute on this. asked for. Srinivasan assured the court that an appropriate decision would be taken on the representation within two weeks.
“In July itself, we said that candidates who have opted for court leave will have their backup exam in November 2021 along with their main cycle. This will not be considered as an attempt and they will not lose any benefit. They Will get the benefit of the same old syllabus,” he said.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the applicants, submitted that as per the June 30 order passed by the Supreme Court, ICAI was bound to conduct a backup examination for CA candidates who have opted out of the July cycle examination due to COVID-19. Had done it. related difficulties.
Bhushan said, “However, ICAI has now said that opt-out students can attempt the next regular cycle exam which will be held in November this year, which means students will lose an attempt which they would have had.”
“They (ICAI) should be directed to conduct a backup exam instead of saying that you sit in the regular exam cycle,” he said, adding that from next year the syllabus would be new.
However, Srinivasan assured that there would be no loss of opportunity for those who had opted out.
The apex court, in its June 30 order, had held that a candidate would be entitled to exercise the option of opting out of the examination if he or any of his family members suffered from COVID-19 in the recent past. and this fact is attested by a registrant. Doctor.
Srinivasan said the ICAI submitted that the decision to conduct a backup exam along with the regular cycle was taken as conducting a separate exam last year had created logistic problems.
The bench said that it is not obstructing the examination cycle for the time being and ICAI can take appropriate decision on the representations to be filed by the applicants. It then asked the applicants to represent the ICAI.
Justice Khanwilkar told Bhushan, “You make a representation. They will also take into account the issue of seniority. Maybe they will give you a better option.”
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