CA Students Take Exam Postponement Plea to Supreme Court Amidst Lok Sabha Election Clash

Earlier this month, Delhi High Court dismissed a petition filed by 16 CA students, demanding exam postponement. The Delhi HC affirmed that there will be no postponement of the CA Exam

A group of Chartered Accountant (CA) students have reportedly taken their plea for exam postponement to the highest judicial authority in India, the Supreme Court. Citing concerns over scheduling conflicts between the impending ICAI exams and the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, these students have filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to seek relief.

Reportedly, the petition, lodged on April 16, calls for a deferment of the exams, emphasizing the clash with the democratic exercise of the upcoming General Elections. As per some of the tweets doing rounds on X, the PIL hearing date is yet to be announced, the petition will be presented by Advocate Nirnimesh Dubey on behalf of the concerned students.

This move follows a prior attempt in the Delhi High Court earlier this month, where a similar petition by 16 CA students was dismissed, ruling out any postponement. Undeterred, students, along with experts and student bodies, are persisting through legal channels, with a hearing scheduled in the Delhi High Court for April 8, 2024. Simultaneously, an open letter directed to Prime Minister Modi has been drafted, urging intervention for exam rescheduling. Correspondence has also been initiated with both the Election Commission of India and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), outlining the logistical and democratic challenges posed by holding exams during the electoral period.

The CA Exam timetable remains unchanged, with CA Inter and CA Final exams slated from May 2nd to May 17th, 2024. The International Taxation - Assessment Test is also scheduled for May 14th and 16th, 2024. However, the CA Foundation course examination is unaffected and is scheduled for June.

Despite concerted advocacy efforts, including extensive social media campaigns, the ICAI has stood firm on its decision not to postpone the exams. The students' plea stems from concerns regarding the overlap between exam dates and the crucial period of democratic participation coinciding with the elections from May 19th to June 4th. They argue that this conflict not only poses logistical challenges but also encroaches upon their fundamental right to vote.

The decision of the ICAI, announced on March 19th, has sparked discontent among students who feel their concerns about mental well-being and democratic participation have been overlooked.

In their appeal to the Prime Minister's Office, CA students emphasize the necessity of postponing exams to uphold academic integrity and democratic engagement. They stress the imperative of prioritizing both academic commitments and democratic rights in this challenging scenario.