Pune:
Around 500 law graduates from the city, who will be appearing for the All India Bar Examination to be held on December 5, are a frustrated lot. They allege that although the examination is approaching, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has failed to provide the books based on the syllabus.
The examination is based on 20 different laws/acts and the BCI is supposed to provide two books for them. Students have demanded that either the BCI give those books immediately or cancel the examination.
The Maharashtra Rajya Navodit Vakil Samasya Nivaran Samiti, which was formed to highlight the plight of budding lawyers and law graduates, claimed that many students who filled forms to appear for the examination are yet to even get the syllabus. These students had submitted their forms in October.
President of the samiti, Atul Pandhe, said that according to the BCI, the examination paper will have only 100 objective type questions for a total of 100 marks. "The questions would be based on 20 different kinds of laws/acts for which the BCI has to give them two books. However, many students have complained to us that they are yet to receive the books. Without the books, it is impossible for them to prepare for the examination," he said.
Acts like the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, Civil Procedure Code 1908, Indian Evidence Act 1872 and Companies Act 1956 are voluminous and part of the syllabus for the examination, he added.
"For students who got permission from the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa for practising law in court, passing this examination is essential. They will not be able to practice till they clear it," said Pandhe. He also questioned the rationale of having such a test. "This is an 'open book examination' where the examinees can refer to the books given by the BCI. Does such an examination serve any purpose?" he asked.
"Students have already gone through the critical examination system, which is based purely on merit. So, there is no need for this kind of rubbish just to harass them and make quick money," said a student, who will be appearing for the examination.
Vice president of the samiti, Varsha Mote said, "Many students submitted the forms as per the guidelines of the BCI. However, they are yet to even get the acknowledgement. They do not know whether their forms have reached the appropriate authorities. And if the forms have not reached, how will the students get the books?"
However, member of the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, Sureshchandra Bhosale, said that soft copies of the two books have been uploaded on the BCI website. "So, even if a student does not get a hard copy of the books, he can download the material from the website. The Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa is ready to help students if they approach us," he added.
President of the Pune Bar Association, Milind Pawar, assured that the association would take up the matter with the BCI and convey the difficulties of the examinees.
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