CA Exam 2021: SC directs ICAI to create Opt-out Scheme, No RTPCR Needed for Opt-Out

Supreme Court while Giving Final Order on ICAI CA July 2021 Examination  has directed ICAI  to allow the option of OPT-Out for Students Suffering from Covid-19. The Apex Court has confirmed that Initially, multiple issues were agitated before us, but eventually, we have confined our consideration only to one aspect of making the comprehensive scheme for optout. Below is the Extract of Final Court Order: A candidate shall be entitled to exercise the option of opting out if he/she personally, or any of his/her family member, has suffered COVID-19 in the recent past and the fact is so certified by a Registered Medical Practitioner, as a result of which he/she is unable to appear in the ensuing examination or, for that matter, is disabled in preparing for the examination. That will not be considered as an attempt in the examination as such. Such candidate will be permitted to appear in the follow up (back up) examination, to be conducted for the old as well new syllabus, subject to conducive situation prevailing at the relevant time. We make it clear that the candidate need not produce RTPCR report if medical certificate issued by the registered Medical Practitioner for himself/herself or his/her family member is presented alongwith the request for optingout. (ii) As regards candidates affected due to lockdown during the relevant period of examination, we are informed that the Scheme itself provides that such candidate will be entitled to opt-out and will not be treated as an attempt. That candidate would be permitted to appear in the back up examination, to be conducted by the Institute in due course. (iii)As regards the logistical arrangements at the examination centre, both in respect of infrastructure and human resource, the Institute shall ensure that there is strict adherence to the standard operating procedure notified by the competent authority, including the Disaster Management Authority. (iv) If any candidate is attempting examination and in the midst of that suffers from Covid-19 ailment, as a result of which, is unable to appear in the remaining subjects, would be entitled to opt-out and will not be treated as an attempt. He/she can appear in the back-up examination, to be conducted by the Institute, as per the rules as noted in aforementioned Note at Serial No. 5. (v) In case of last-minute change of examination centre, we disapprove the suggestion of the Institute - that if the change is within the same city, it will not be open to the candidate to opt-out. Instead, we direct that the Institute shall permit such candidate to opt-out in case, of last-minute change of examination centre, which will not be treated as an attempt in the examination and such candidate shall be permitted to appear in the back-up examination, to be conducted by the Institute at appropriate time, when the situation is conducive in that regard. This would assuage the apprehension of the candidates regarding conducive environment made available to them for appearing in the examination. As no other issue is pending for consideration, these petitions and pending application(s) are disposed of accordingly. To Download the Order copy Click on Below link of Download File.