The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) cannot hold the upcoming ICAI CA exam online as suggested by some of the candidates, in view of Covid-19, the body told the Supreme Court on Wednesday, according to NDTV. The ICAI said its three-hour exam tests the analytical capabilities of the examinees and is of a different pattern altogether, which have descriptive answers and not tick marks.
A bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and Sanjiv Khanna asked the ICAI to publish on its website the steps taken for students’ welfare with regard to Covid-19 and disposed of the petition seeking a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the candidates in the upcoming CA exams.
The Chartered Accountant exams are set to be held from November 21 to December 14. The admit card for the exam was released on November 2
Appearing for the ICAI, senior advocate Ramji Srinivasan said that they do not have any isolation rooms as examination centres and don’t have the facilities for doctors.
He said that as directed by the top court in its last hearing, the Institute has examined all the suggestions given by advocate Bansuri Swaraj, representing the petitioners. “There was a suggestion that can we hold online exams. Our exams have a different pattern and therefore we cannot hold the online examination”, he said.
The bench then told Swaraj that petitioners need to be reasonable in their demands and it was not satisfied with their responses. Srinivasan further said that transport and accommodation sought by the petitioner are not possible. He submitted that ICAI may request the Union Home Ministry to allow e-admit cards to book hotels.
The bench said that it is a state-specific issue as earlier when such suggestions were made, the state governments have agreed to do so. It told Swaraj that how can online exams be allowed when the answers are required to be descriptive. “How can this be allowed? Just because courts are allowing many things, you cannot keep on asking what you want. Be reasonable in your demands,” the bench told the petitioner’s counsel.
The apex court asked ICAI to put all information on the grievances raised by the petitioners on the website and disposed of the plea saying if there is any lapse it will be addressed but exams in the past have been handled well.
The petitioners have contended that despite less than a month left for the commencement of examination, no steps have been taken by the authorities with respect to the safety of examinees. They have claimed that no safety guidelines have been issued by ICAI on how the exams will be held amid the pandemic.
The plea alleged that the examination will be in violation of central government guidelines which prohibits congregations of more than 100 persons at an academic institution.
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