Delhi High Court Rejects CA Exam Postponement Plea Despite Student Advocacy

The Delhi HC has affirmed that there will be no postponement of the CA Exam, dismissing a petition filed by 16 CA students

The Delhi High Court, responding to a petition filed by 16 CA students urging for the postponement of the CA Exam, has issued an order, stating that there will be no postponement of the exams.

Delhi HC refuses to postpone the CA exams

In a decisive ruling, the Delhi High Court has affirmed that there will be no postponement of the CA Exam, dismissing a petition filed by 16 CA students who sought a delay in the examination.

The petition was filed last week by students hailing from 16 states and one Union Territory, including disabled students, highlights concerns about the scheduling conflict between the upcoming ICAI exams and the Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

Efforts to delay the ICAI CA May Intermediate and Final Exams 2024 have been extensive and diverse. Students, alongside experts and student bodies, have pursued legal avenues, seeking a hearing at the Delhi High Court scheduled for Monday, April 8, 2024. Concurrently, an open letter addressed to Prime Minister Modi has been drafted, appealing for intervention to postpone the exams. Furthermore, concerns have been communicated to both the Election Commission of India and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), highlighting the challenges and conflicts posed by conducting exams during the electoral period.

The CA Exam schedule remains as follows: CA Inter Group I exams are slated for May 3, 5, and 9, 2024, while Group II exams are scheduled for May 11, 15, and 17, 2024. CA Final Group I exams will be held on May 2, 4, and 8, 2024, and Group II exams on May 10, 14, and 16, 2024. Additionally, the International Taxation - Assessment Test is set for May 14 and 16, 2024. The CA Foundation course examination is unaffected by the elections and will take place in June.

Despite widespread advocacy, including thousands of tweets and shares, the ICAI has shown no inclination to postpone the exams. The plea arises from students' concerns regarding the overlap between the ICAI exams, scheduled from May 2nd to May 17th, and the critical period of democratic participation coinciding with the elections from May 19th to June 4th. Students argue that this conflict not only presents logistical challenges but also infringes upon their fundamental right to vote.

The decision by the ICAI to maintain the conflicting schedule, announced on March 19th, has stirred discontent among students who feel their concerns about mental well-being and democratic participation have been disregarded.

CA students have also appealed to the Prime Minister's Office for exam postponement, emphasizing the importance of delaying exams to ensure academic fairness and civic engagement. They highlight the clash between exam dates and the democratic process, underscoring the necessity to prioritize both academic commitments and democratic rights.