In a significant relief for law aspirants, the Supreme Court of India has permitted visually impaired candidates appearing for the All India Bar Examination (AIBE) and Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) to avail the assistance of scribes with qualifications higher than 10+2. Earlier, there were restrictions regarding the educational qualification of scribes. The latest directive clarifies that specially-abled candidates with visual impairment are entitled to choose a scribe who is an undergraduate and possesses qualifications above 10+2. However, the scribe must not be a law graduate or pursuing studies in law or related humanities courses. The move ensures that visually impaired candidates are not disadvantaged during examinations that often include complex legal instructions and analytical questions, while also preventing any possibility of unfair advantage.
AIBE & CLAT Eligibility Criteria Revised
The Apex Court, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, directed the Bar Council of India and the Consortium of National Law Universities to implement the revised norms immediately. As per the endorsed suggestion, there is no bar on a visually impaired candidate using a scribe who holds educational qualifications higher than 10+2 schooling. The only restriction remains that the scribe should not be academically connected to the field of law to maintain examination fairness. Authorities have been asked to notify the updated guidelines well in advance of the upcoming AIBE and CLAT examinations, enabling candidates sufficient time to arrange suitable scribes. This decision is aimed at removing procedural hurdles and ensuring equal opportunity for differently-abled law aspirants across the country.
