In a dramatic turn of events, the Supreme Court of India has called off the online Advocate-on-Record (AoR) exam after the initial test on Monday was plagued by severe technical issues.
Following the debacle, Chief Justice of India (CJI) decreed that all remaining AoR exam papers will be conducted in person this year, sources informed Bar & Bench.
Approximately 120 candidates experienced significant technical malfunctions during the online exam. Issues ranged from being unable to start the exam to computers crashing mid-way through the test, with some candidates managing to write for only about 2.5 hours before facing disruptions.
In response, it has been decided that each candidate will be allotted an additional hour per paper. The rescheduled physical exams will take place at the Judges’ library within the Supreme Court’s additional building complex.
The abandoned exam was for the subject ‘Practice and Procedure’, conducted at the Guru Hargobind Institute of Management & Information Technology in Anand Vihar, New Delhi.
In reaction to this shift, the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) has expressed its discontent through a letter to the Supreme Court’s secretary general. SCAORA argued that switching to a physical exam mode on such short notice is unreasonable for candidates who had prepared for an online format.
Additionally, SCAORA highlighted the inadequate conditions at the online exam venue, including poor ventilation that caused candidates to endure uncomfortable heat throughout the test.
SCAORA has urged the secretary general to address the matter promptly with the CJI to seek a viable resolution.
