Bar Council of India (BCI) to extend registration period for All India BAR Examination
The Bar Council of India (BCI) has today extended the deadline to apply for the All India BAR Exam from end of September to 31 October 2010 to accommodate students facing delays in enrolment.
The BCI published the following statement by chairman Gopal Subramanium on its website today: "In light of the various requests and queries received from law students across India, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has decided that the registration period for the AIBE is hereby extended till October 31, 2010. This will allow law students who are facing delays on account of release of certificates from law schools or awaiting enrolment at a State Bar Council ('SBC'), greater time to register for the AIBE."
In addition to the existing online enrolment mechanism (through the download of a pro forma application), an automated application mechanism is also now available on the BCI website. This automated application mechanism will ease the process of application for those law students/freshly enrolled advocates who are facing any problems in applying directly to the BCI for the AIBE.
State Bar Councils ("SBCs") across India are being informed of this decision and will also be kept completely updated on the final number of advocates undertaking the AIBE, 2010 as well as the results of the same, so that they can check the same against their records of enrolment and ensure that advocates who do not clear the AIBE are not allowed to practice law in India. The all India bar exam is currently being challenged by more than 10 writ petitions, which are due to be heard by the Supreme Court on 20 October. The bar exam is scheduled to take place on 5 December 2010.