Law graduates seek judicial intervention over bar exam irregularities in Maharashtra

Alleging “gross administrative failures” and violations of constitutional rights during the All-India Bar Examination (AIBE-XX) held on November 30, a group of law graduates and advocates from Maharashtra on Tuesday (December 2, 2025) have petitioned the Supreme Court of India and the Bombay High Court, seeking suo motu cognisance and urgent judicial intervention. 

The petition, filed by members of the Bombay City Lawyer Groups, represents thousands of candidates who appeared for the mandatory licensure exam across centres in Nalasopara, Vasai, Thane, Mumbai Suburban, and Navi Mumbai. The AIBE, conducted by the Bar Council of India under the Advocates Act, 1961, is a statutory requirement for law graduates to practice in Indian courts. 

The plea alleges that examinees were subjected to “hazardous, unhygienic, and unconstitutional conditions” that compromised their dignity and safety. Centres were reportedly located in remote areas with poor transport connectivity, causing severe hardship to senior citizens, women candidates, and differently abled persons. Inside the halls, conditions were described as “grossly substandard,” with broken benches, overcrowded rooms, and inadequate ventilation. Sanitation facilities were unusable, lacking water and privacy, forcing female candidates into humiliating situations. There was also no provision for drinking water, medical aid, or first-aid arrangements, and invigilators were allegedly untrained, with no grievance of redressal mechanism in place. 

“These failures are not mere logistical lapses; they amount to violations of Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Constitution,” said Advocate Faiyaz Alam Shaikh, who is leading the petition. He said that the right to dignity and the right to pursue a lawful profession cannot be compromised in a statutory examination that determines entry into the legal profession. “Judicial oversight is critical to restore credibility. We are demanding immediate judicial intervention, sweeping reforms, and a full Action Taken Report from the Bar Council of India, State Bar Council Maharashtra and Goa, exam conducting agencies, and Maharashtra government to address these glaring failures,” he added. 

The petition invokes the extraordinary jurisdiction of the courts under Articles 32 and 226 and seeks directions to the Bar Council of India and the State Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa to ensure accountability and remedial measures. It also calls for the constitution of a High-Level Supervisory Committee comprising retired judges, senior advocates, and academicians to monitor future AIBE examinations and recommend systemic reforms. 

Emails have been sent to the Supreme Court registry, the Bar Council of India, and other authorities, but no official response has been received yet. The petitioners have urged the courts to act swiftly, warning that “the credibility of the legal profession’s licensing process is at stake.”