Shreya Gupta
On 13th August 2025, the Supreme Court made it clear that visually impaired candidates appearing for future editions of the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) must be given full access to necessary facilities.
These include the use of the JAWS screen reader, permission to bring customised keyboards and a mouse, and the option to type answers on a Word document during the test. At the same time, candidates will continue to have the choice of using a scribe, in line with government guidelines.
A Bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi heard the matter. It was noted that the directions earlier issued on 5th and 11th December 2024, for the All-India Bar Examination (AIBE), will also apply to CLAT in the future. The Court was hearing a petition filed by visually impaired law students who wanted to appear for the CLAT-PG 2024 -25 and the AIBE.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave informed the Court that fresh guidelines had been issued on 1st August, 2025, in compliance with its earlier orders. The Court directed both the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the CLAT Consortium to ensure strict adherence to these new guidelines. The earlier directions, first passed on 5th December 2024, had mandated that visually impaired candidates in the AIBE be provided with facilities such as JAWS and NVDA screen readers, the ability to use personal keyboards and customised mice, and the chance to complete software installation a day before the exam.
Importantly, candidates were also given the flexibility to answer either on a computer or with the help of a scribe. A further order on 11th December 2024, reinforced this by requiring necessary arrangements for computer-based answering while keeping the option of a scribe open.
The matter will next be taken up on 13th November 2025.
Case Title: Yash Dodani & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
Case number: Writ Petition (Civil) No.785/2024
Bench: Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi
Click here to access the order
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