The Consortium of National Law Universities in a meeting held on June 29 has decided that Common Law Admission Test (CLAT 2020) shall be conducted through a computer-based, online, centre-based test to be held on Saturday August 22, 2020. 

In a notification issued it said, “the Executive Committee (the ‘EC’) of the Consortium of National Law Universities (the ‘consortium’) met on 29th June 2020 to review the impact on CLAT 2020 of the Lockdowns and other restrictions arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

At the aforesaid meeting, the EC assessed the feasibility of conducting the Common Law Admission Test, 2020 (the “CLAT 2020”) through various modes. It concluded that an off-line test, as initially contemplated, would require large scale movement of students to limited centres, and significant logistics in the handling of question papers and answer scripts, which is not possible during the prevalent pandemic conditions. Further, an on-line test at home with technological measures cannot ensure transparency, fairness and integrity of a high stakes examination process or maintain equitable access to necessary facilities. Hence, the EC concluded that an on-line test at a large number of centres compliant with physical distancing and public health safety prescriptions is in the best interests of the health and safety of candidates and test administrators.

According the the notification, the Consortium of NLUs announces the following decisions in relation to the conduct of the CLAT 2020:

a. The CLAT 2020 shall be conducted through a computer-based, online, centre-based test to be held on Saturday August 22, 2020.

b. The full list of examination centres for the CLAT 2020 will be notified to all candidates on July 1, 2020;

c. Candidates may register for CLAT 2020 till July 10, 2020;

d. All registered candidates shall: i) Select or reconfirm their test centres ii) Withdraw their registration; by July 10, 2020. e. Where a candidate withdraws from CLAT 2020, their application fee shall be refunded after a deduction of INR 400 for SC/ST candidates and INR 500 for all other candidates towards processing charges. Refunds will be made by July 18, 2020.

CLAT 2020 will use a “Social Distanced Computer Based Testing” model which will enable a rapid restart of assessments with due compliance to social distancing norms and other key precautions to be taken to ensure prevention of virus spread.

The CLAT will follow a model whereby:

● Staff will be deployed for Crowd Management and orderly movement.

● Staff with Thermo Guns will be present at entry gate

● Sufficient cleaning staff, center administrators and invigilators with face masks and hand gloves will be deployed.

● Spray machines with disinfectant liquid will be used to sanitize examination centers thoroughly.

● Sufficient hand sanitizer and hand soap will be present across the test centers and washrooms.

● Candidates with fever or COVID symptoms will not be permitted inside the exam venue. A separate isolation lab will be set up to accommodate these candidates.

● PPE kits will be made available for staff in isolation labs.

● 3 ply masks and gloves will be provided to isolated candidates.

-India Legal Bureau

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