Anti-paper leak amendment Bill gets green light in Lok Sabha with bigger jail terms and fines: Here are 8 things to know
The amendment proposes stiffer penalties, harsher financial penalties and a fast-track judicial mechanism to address cases of unfair means in major public examinations conducted by central bodies like UPSC, SSC, railways, banking recruitment agencies and NTA.
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The 2024 law was enacted at a time when the government was constantly facing paper leak controversies. Prior to this legislation, there was no specific substantive law to address unfair means or offenses committed by organizations conducting public examinations for the central government and its agencies. The amendment bill was approved by the Union Cabinet before being presented to the Parliament.
Here are eight things you need to know about the bill:
1. Fast track courts: State governments and Union Territory administrations have the power to designate any sessions court as a special fast track court to try offenses under the law.
2. Three months trial period: Trials in these fast-track courts will continue on a daily basis and the cases must be completed within three months from the date of submission of the indictment.3. Special task forces: The central government has been empowered to constitute special task forces to investigate crimes under the law, in addition to existing provisions for transfer of cases to central investigation agencies.
4. Two months investigation period: Investigations under the law must be completed within two months, a timeline applicable to the state police, central investigation agencies and special task forces constituted for such cases.
5. Special public prosecutors: State governments and UT administrations are required to appoint special prosecutors to handle cases under the law before fast-track courts.
6. Objection mechanism: Appeals against any decision, sentence or order may be appealed to a panel of two judges of the high court and must be decided within three months from the date on which the appeal is granted.
7. Imprisonment and fines for individuals: According to the new law, people found guilty of paper leakage or unfair means in exams will face imprisonment of a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh. This is an increase from the earlier provision of imprisonment of three to five years and fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.
8. Stricter measures against organized crime: For organized crime linked to exam fraud, the bill proposes a minimum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10 billion, as against a minimum term of five years and a fine of Rs 1 billion under the 2024 law.
The amendment also increases penalties for service providers and their senior executives. Fines on service providers, currently up to Rs 1 billion, have been increased to Rs 5 billion; The ban from taking exams was also extended from four to eight years.
Also read: Lok Sabha passes anti-paper leak bill to tighten penalties for exam fraud
Executives and senior management found complicit in examination fraud now face a minimum prison sentence of five years to three years, with the maximum remaining at 10 years and fines increased from Rs1 billion to Rs5 billion.
Speaking in Lok Sabha during the debate on the bill, Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh said that 52 FIRs have been lodged since the anti-paper leakage law came into force in 2024.
