Education news
Public Examinations Act: Up to 10 Years Jail and Rs 10 Crore Fine for Paper Leaks
· Source: Amar Ujala
The Central Government has introduced stricter penalties under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act to curb paper leaks and cheating. Haryana's Directorate of Higher Education has directed all government colleges and libraries across the state to strictly enforce the new provisions.
Strict Penalties Under the Amended Law
The Central Government has amended the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act to increase punishments and fines for exam malpractice. Penalties depend on the nature of the offence and the party involved:
| Offence / Involved Party | Imprisonment | Fine / Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Individual found guilty | 5 to 10 years | Up to Rs 50 lakh |
| Organised cheating / crime | At least 7 years | Up to Rs 10 crore |
| Exam conducting agency / Service provider | Barred from conducting exams for 8 years | Up to Rs 5 crore; re-exam cost will also be recovered |
| Directors / Senior officials of agency | 5 to 10 years | Up to Rs 5 crore |
Actions Considered as Offences
Under the new law, a wide range of malpractices during examinations are categorised as punishable offences:
- Leaking question papers or answer keys.
- Tampering with OMR sheets.
- Manipulating computer networks.
- Assisting any candidate in an examination without authorisation.
- Creating fake websites to issue admit cards or appointment letters.
- Concealing crucial examination-related information.
- Conducting examinations outside the designated exam centres without permission.
Exams Covered Under the Act
The new law covers major central recruitment and entrance examinations. These include:
- Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
- Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
- Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB)
- Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS)
- Examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Recruitment examinations of Central Government ministries and departments
Directives Issued in Haryana
Haryana's Director General of Higher Education, S. Narayanan, has issued directions to implement the new law strictly. Letters have been sent to principals of all government colleges in the state, NCC officers, and librarians of district and sub-divisional libraries to ensure compliance with the rules and maintain necessary precautions at their level.
Timelines for Investigation and Trial
The rules outline specific timeframes and authority levels to prevent delays in legal proceedings:
- Investigation must be completed within 2 months of filing the case.
- The probe must be conducted by an officer not below the rank of DSP or ACP.
- The Central Government can hand over the investigation to a central agency or Special Task Force (STF) if required.
- The trial of the case must be completed within 3 months.
Questions
What is the penalty for organised paper leak or cheating?
Those involved in organised exam manipulation will face at least seven years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore.
Who is authorised to investigate offences under the new rules?
The investigation must be led by a senior police officer not below the rank of DSP or ACP, or by a central agency/STF if assigned by the Central Government.
What happens if an exam conducting agency is found negligent or guilty?
The agency can be fined up to Rs 5 crore, debarred from conducting exams for eight years, and made to pay the full cost of conducting a re-examination.
Which major exams fall within the scope of this law?
It applies to exams conducted by UPSC, SSC, RRB, IBPS, NTA, and Central Government ministries and departments.
Written in English by Disha Stars from the Amar Ujala report (read the original in Hindi). Check dates and links on the official website before you act.
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