No Postponement Of CA Exams, Supreme Court Says “We Shall Not Intervene”

Supreme Court of India today refused to intervene in a plea put forward by Chartered Accountants (CA) aspirants to postpone their exams keeping in view of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. CA exams in India is held by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). The CA exams are not happening on any dates when the elections are scheduled, but in some states, voting will take place close to the exam dates, and this was the contention of the students.

A Supreme Court Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said while dismissing the petition said when 4 lakh plus students have enrolled any relief at this stage would result in grave prejudice.

The CA exams have been scheduled between May 2 and May 17 and there are two phases of Lok Sabha elections scheduled in this period; the third phase on May 7 and the fourth phase on May 13. The aspirants plead to postpone the exams scheduled on May 8 and May 14.

Notably, ICAI has already rescheduled the chartered accountant examinations, for May 2024. The new exam details are given below.

Intermediate course examinations

Group – I : 3rd, 5th and 9th May 2024

Group – II : 11th, 15th and 17th May 2024

Final Examination

Group – I : 2nd, 4th and 8th May 2024

Group – II : 10th, 14th and 16th May 2024

Member’s examination

International Taxation – Assessment Test – 14th and 16th May 2024

Earlier students filed petition in Delhi High Court seeking revision of the dates of Chartered Accountants (CA) exam arguing that some of the students will not be able to cast their votes as they live in distant places from their hometowns.

The court quashed the argument and expressed surprise over the filing of the petition. The High Court said that the petition is bereft of substance considering the aforesaid reasons. The court added that no exam is clashing with the voting dates and it asked students to balance their preparation and voting rights properly.