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CA Exams 2024: The Supreme Court on Monday declined a plea seeking the postponement of the Chartered Accountant exams (CA exam) scheduled from May 2 to May 17, conducted by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) due to the ongoing Lok Sabha Election 2024. A top court bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud ruled that changing the exam dates would affect the extensive arrangements that are already in place for the conduct of exams and could result in grave injustice for some students, who are planning to clear the exams in a single attempt, as reported by the Bar and Bench.

The apex court noted that the Chartered Accountant exams for intermediate and final level are scheduled for May 8 and May 14, whereas the elections are scheduled to be held on May 7, and May 13. The bench also noted that over 4.36 lakh students have enrolled for the exams and postponing the dates will cause grave hardship, as reported by Live Law.

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While representing the aggrieved CA students, senior Advocate Madhavi Divan proposed an ‘opt-out’ option for students who were unable to attend exams on May 8 and 14 due to elections. Divan stated that during elections, public buses were withdrawn and many hostels were also vacated, which could make it difficult for the students to appear for the exams. She also mentioned that the plea was made in the public interest. 

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However, the counsel representing the ICAI opposed any postponement, citing the comprehensive arrangements made across the country and the absence of exam dates coinciding with the election date. The Supreme Court accepted ICAI’s submissions that providing ‘opt-out’ options would prejudice those students who take all papers in a single attempt. 

The CA Exams 2024 are scheduled to begin from May 4, 2024. (ANI Image)

“This is a matter of policy. They (ICAI) are saying their exam dates are not on election dates. 4 lakh 36,000 students have enrolled, 591 centres in 290 plus areas. This is not a case for our interference," CJI Chandrachud said. The Lok Sabha Election 2024 will be held in certain states on May 7 and May 13 while the closest dates for CA exams were on May 8 and May 14. 

ICAI CA Exam 2024: Check Schedule

The examinations are scheduled to begin from May 4, 2024. ICAI has reportedly scheduled the intermediate and final exams into two groups. The Intermediate Group 1 exams will be held on May 3, 5, and 9, with Group 2 following on May 11, 15, and 17. The final exams for Group 1 are scheduled for May 2, 4, and 8, and for Group 2 for May 10, 14, and 16.