Every exam centre must pass the cleanliness test

Representational image. Pic/iStock

In the week following the 2025 bar exam, the Bombay City Lawyer Group raised concerns regarding the examination centres, calling them unfit, inaccessible, and unhygienic, according to a mid-day report. The All India Bar Examination took place on November 30, with students appearing for the annual exam across centres located in Nalasopara, Vasai, Thane, Mumbai, and Navi Mumbai.

According to the lawyers' group, the examination centres were overcrowded and poorly ventilated, and had broken benches. No drinking water and non-functional, broken washrooms compounded problems. There were uncomfortable benches and one student said that their class had no fans or lights. The washrooms were unhygienic, and the space where students were supposed to keep their bags had garbage, one examinee said.

Every exam centre must be inspected prior to be selected as a centre by relevant authorities. Such venues must tick certain boxes. Sufficient lighting is a must, and fans are necessary. The structure cannot be dilapidated.

Good, clean washrooms and drinking water facilities should be a given. We cannot have students using unclean washrooms and suffering health consequences. Every classroom must be clean, so that examinees enter a sanitary environment. The place must be accessible, so that those taking the exam and invigilators are able to reach the venue without hardship. The commute may take a while but it must be as smooth as possible. Seating has to be adequate. One cannot have adult examinees told to squeeze into little children's benches. The feasibility and viability of centres must be checked before they earn exam entre status. Pass the test first before examinees sit for their tests.