Candidates who opted out of the CA exam conducted in July because of Covid-related difficulties will not lose any opportunity, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) told the Supreme Court on Thursday.

The apex court, which was hearing an application seeking a direction to the ICAI to conduct a backup examination for opt-out candidates, asked the applicants to make a representation to the institute. The ICAI counsel told a bench headed by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar that an appropriate decision would be taken within two weeks.

Senior advocate Ramji Srinivasan, appearing for the institute, told the bench that there would be no loss of opportunity to candidates who had opted out of the July exam.

“In July itself we had said those candidates who have opted out… will have their backup in November 2021 along with the main cycle. It will not be treated as an attempt and they will not lose any benefits. They will get the benefit of the same old syllabus,” Srinivasan said.

On June 30, the court had said a candidate shall be entitled to exercise the option of opting out of the exam if he or she or any family member has suffered Covid-19 in the recent past.