Allow Visually Challenged CLAT-PG Candidates To Give Answers In Computer : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has directed that visually impaired candidates appearing in future editions of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) must be provided facilities including the use of JAWS (Job Access With Speech) screen reader, and permission to use customised keyboards and mouse to answer questions on a Word document on the computer, with the additional option of using a scribe as per government guidelines.

A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed that the interim directions issued earlier on December 5, 2024, and December 11, 2024, regarding facilities for visually impaired candidates for the All India Bar Exam, shall apply to future editions of CLAT.

“Meanwhile, the interim directions issued by this Court on 05.12.2024 and 11.12.2024 shall apply mutatis mutandis in the CLAT Examination in future to be conducted by the respondents”, the Court stated.

The Court was dealing with a plea by visually impaired law students who sought to appear for the CLAT – Postgraduate exam 2024-25 and AIBE. The Court posted the matter for further consideration on November 13, 2025.

Additional Solicitor General of India Archana Pathak Dave informed the court that fresh guidelines were issued on August 1, 2025, in view of the aforementioned orders. The Court directed that these guidelines shall also be adhered to by the respondents BCI and CLAT Consortium.

On December 5, 2024, the court had directed the Bar Council of India to provide facilities for visually impaired candidates appearing for the AIBE, including availability of JAWS and NVDA screen readers, permission to use personal keyboards and customised mice, and allowing completion of software installation a day before the examination. It further directed that candidates should have the option to answer questions on a computer or through a scribe.

On December 11, 2024, the court directed that all necessary arrangements must be made to enable visually impaired candidates to answer questions on computers if they so desired, while also retaining the option of using a scribe. It further directed that any scribe should not belong to humanities or law background and should have an educational qualification one step below that of the candidate, in line with Government of India guidelines dated August 29, 2018.

The case will be taken up next on November 13, 2025.

Case no. – Writ Petition (Civil) No.785/2024

Case Title – Yash Dodani & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.

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