New Delhi: The Union Cabinet, on Friday, cleared a Bill that will tighten existing laws against paper leaks and cheating.
This will bring about amendments to the existing Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to give it more teeth.
This came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late-night video message, promising more action.
A provision for setting up fast-track courts to try paper leak cases has been added to the law, sources told NDTV. Prime Minister Modi had posted on Thursday morning that he has directed the setting up of fast-track courts for paper leak cases.
These fast-track courts would be mandated to dispose off a matter and announce punishment within three months.
Amendments have also been proposed to increase both the jail term and monetary penalties for those involved in paper leaks.
Those involved in paper leaks may face punishment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore, the sources said.
Currently, the punishment for such individuals is imprisonment of 3 to 5 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.
Under the current law, service providers who do not report a possible offence can be fined up to Rs 1 crore. In cases of organised crime, the punishment is 5 to 10 years’ imprisonment with a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore.
The Amendment Bill is expected to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
PM Modi’s post on X came after the Delhi High Court announced a fast-track court to hear such cases. The late-night video statement was the second post by PM Modi on the issue in a single day.
“Friends, I know that paper leak is not an ordinary issue. It is very painful for lakhs of students and their families. That is why many steps have been taken in the last two and a half months,” the Prime Minister said.
“The culprits have been caught and are in jail. Our most important responsibility was to ensure that students do not waste a single year. It was very important to conduct the exams immediately,” he said, adding the government used its full power to arrange the exams for at least 22 lakh students.
“I gave instructions to the departments for the fast-track court. Today, the departments worked hard and gave me the approval late at night. Tomorrow, there will be a discussion in the Cabinet. After the suggestions of the Cabinet members, it will be given its final form. And from Monday, when the second week of Parliament starts, we will try to get that Bill passed as soon as possible,” PM Modi said.
In his reaction to the statement, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi reiterated that students want education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.