CHENNAI: Even as protests by law graduates erupted across the State, the Bar Council’s national eligibility test was conducted on Sunday amidst tight security. In Tamil Nadu, the exam was conducted in four centres — two in Tiruchy and one each in Coimbatore and Vellore. A total of 718 candidates, including those from neighbouring districts, appeared for the exam at the Government Muthurangam Arts College and DKM College in Vellore. Over 200 police were deployed at the exam centres. Meanwhile, a group boycotted the exam and tried to force others to join them. Later, they staged a protest opposite to the exam centres.The Bar Council of India’s announcement that law students who had passed out after 2009, would have to undergo an eligibility test before being certified to practice, had triggered protests by students who want the exam to be cancelled.In Coimbatore, 290 candidates were scheduled to appear for the exam and 21 law graduates were held when they staged a protest and tried to prevent others from appearing for the exam at the PSG College of Technology. Similarly in Tiruchy, 14 law graduates who boycotted the exam were arrested for staging a protest. Of the 978 candidates who appeared for the exam in Tiruchy, 550 wrote the exam at St Joseph’s College, near Chathiram Bus Stand, while for the remaining 428, the exam centre was the Urumu Dhanalakshmi College, Katur. A group of 14 students, led by Manitha Urimai Pathukappu Iyyakam secretary Adhi Narayana Moorthy, protested and boycotted the exam. They also raised slogans, while standing in front of the exam hall. Police personnel who were deputed at the centre arrested them. They were released later. Interestingly, personnel of the armed forces who were instructed by the High Court to be present outside the exam centres, were also found inside the exam hall.The situation at St Joseph’s College was relatively calm. The vice principal told Express that apart from four graduates who disturbed the exam, all the others were allowed to write the exam.
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