“Better luck next time": Supreme Court asks lawyer who challenged AOR exam result to attempt the exam again

A Supreme Court bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna today asked a lawyer who challenged the result of his Advocate on Record examination to prepare better for the exam next time and give it another shot.

The bench said so in a plea by Vivek Sharma, who attempted the Advocate on Record (AOR) examination in 2019 but did not manage to clear it. He moved a writ petition before the Supreme Court challenging his result on the ground that he had written the correct answers to the questions asked in the exam.

When the hearing for the matter commenced, the bench informed Sharma that there was no provision to order revaluation of the paper. Sharma however informed the court that he had not approached the court for revaluation and that his career depended on the results of the examination. He further informed the court that 95% of the answers he had written were correct.

Justice Chandrachud on going through his answer paper noticed that he had used the words ‘petitioner’ while drafting the suit and informed Sharma that he had committed errors while answering some very basic questions. Justice Boapanna told Sharma that the court cannot evaluate his paper and that they cannot award marks to him in legal proceedings.

Sharma contended that he only wanted to come under the system and work in the system. Justice Chandrachud told him that the court can't pick up every answer and evaluate it in a proceeding. Sharma however started taking the court through all the answers he had written in the examination.

Justice Chandrachud informed Sharma that marks were also awarded for how certain answers are written and unlike mathematics, a question does not have an answer in law which is almost always certain. Sharma however argued that he did not want to show the loopholes in the system and his intention was to present his case and get justice. Sharma further urged the court to use its administrative power.

Justice Chandrachud at this point informed Sharma that he needs to prepare and attempt the examination again and that there were other people who have failed in the exam. The petition was dismissed by the court.

Case title: Vivek Sharm Vs Supreme Court of India & ors