'Fast-tracking' justice in NEET paper leak cases, courts to be set up in 4 states
New Delhi, July 23
The government has set in motion the process for setting up fast-track courts to deliver swift justice and stringent punishment for those involved in the paper leaks, hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement.
Those accused in the NEET paper leak case will face the new 'anti-cheating' law, and they will be prosecuted under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
Highly placed sources said that the Central Government is in the process of establishing fast-track courts in four states.
Those found guilty and convicted under the Act will be imprisoned for 5 years and penalised Rs 10 lakh, they suggested.
Currently, there are around four existing cases pending in the High Courts, and now all these cases will be tried in fast-track courts.
According to sources, the Central Government is set to issue a formal request to the respective states and High Courts to constitute special fast-track courts for these cases, ensuring daily hearings and speedy disposal.
As the NEET (National Eligibility Entrance Test) is an examination conducted by the NTA, the nodal body for conducting competitive exams, the cases involving paper leaks and unfair means related to it will fall under the ambit of this law.
Sources said that four FIRs have been registered under this Act so far regarding the NEET paper leak.
Four fast-track courts are being set up on a priority basis within the jurisdictions of Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh High Courts to hear these cases. Two of these four cases fall under the jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court.
The new law, as per sources, will also cover other paper leaks related to examinations including UPSC, SSC, RRB, IBPS, recruitment examinations for Central Government ministries and departments, besides all entrance and recruitment examinations conducted by the NTA.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to emphasize the government's utmost concern for the nation's youth and stated that fast-track courts will be set up to bring the guilty to book, including stringent punishment.
"Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth. Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared," PM Modi said in the post.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is a good move but I have my doubts. Fast-track courts in India often become slow-track courts due to lack of judges and infrastructure. Hope the government also addresses these fundamental issues alongside setting up new courts. The youth deserve better.
As a parent of a medical aspirant, this brings some relief. The new anti-cheating law with 5 years imprisonment and Rs 10 lakh fine is a strong deterrent. But we also need to fix the NTA's conduct - how did the leak happen in the first place? Accountability at every level is key.
Great that this covers UPSC, SSC, RRB and other exams too. These paper leaks have become a menace. The daily hearing mandate is crucial - no more endless adjournments. Let's see if the system actually delivers justice or if it becomes another bureaucratic exercise.
PM Modi's statement about youth welfare is reassuring. But honestly, the damage is already done for thousands of students who took the compromised exam. Fast-track courts for punishment is good, but what about the students who wrote the exam under unfair conditions? Their futures hang in balance while investigations drag on. 😔
Setting up courts in Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, and MP makes sense given where the cases are. But we need to ensure these courts have dedicated prosecutors and investigators too. Just having a fast-track court without supporting infrastructure is like having a Ferrari without fuel. Good step, but implementation matters!
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