Paper Leaks to Face Tougher Action: Here's What the New Bill Says

HYDERABAD: The Centre has introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill to impose tougher penalties for question paper leaks and organised cheating in public examinations.

The

proposes stricter punishments, time-bound investigations and dedicated fast-track courts. The government says the changes will make the examination system more transparent, credible and fair after several high-profile paper leak cases affected lakhs of aspirants.

Tougher penalties for exam fraud

The proposed amendments strengthen the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which aims to prevent unfair practices in recruitment and other public examinations.

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Under the

, anyone convicted of using unfair means could face a minimum prison term of five years, instead of three years. The maximum jail term has increased from five years to 10 years. The maximum fine has also gone up from ₹10 lakh to ₹50 lakh.

The Bill also targets service providers involved in examination malpractice. Such entities could face fines of up to ₹5 crore, compared with the existing ₹1 crore. Authorities may also bar them from conducting public examinations for eight years instead of four.

Directors and senior management who approve or facilitate examination fraud could face five to 10 years in prison. They could also be fined up to ₹5 crore.

The Bill proposes even stricter punishment for organised paper leak rackets involving institutions, organised groups or examination authorities. The minimum prison term will increase from five years to seven years. The minimum fine will rise from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore.

Time-bound investigations and fast-track trials

The Bill requires the police, a Central Investigating Agency or a Special Task Force (STF) to complete investigations within two months.

The Centre can also constitute Special Task Forces to investigate examination-related offences. If the government notifies an STF for a case, it will handle the investigation exclusively.

Every state and Union Territory will designate a Special Fast Track Court to hear cases under the Act. These courts will conduct day-to-day hearings wherever possible. They will also hear related criminal offences along with the main case and aim to complete trials within three months of filing the charge sheet.

Authorities will transfer pending cases under the Act to the designated fast-track courts. The courts will try to complete these cases within three months of the transfer.

Appeals and implementation

Appeals against judgments of the Special Fast Track Courts will go before a Division Bench of the High Court. The Bill says the High Court should dispose of appeals within three months wherever possible.

Parties must normally file appeals within 30 days. However, courts may allow delays of up to 90 days in appropriate cases.

Question paper leaks have disrupted several recruitment and entrance examinations in recent years. The delays have affected appointments and caused uncertainty for lakhs of candidates. The government hopes the proposed amendments will deter organised cheating and restore confidence in the examination system.