Naresh Pal Gangwar replaces Vineet Joshi as new Higher Education Secretary amid NEET leak protest
New Delhi, July 24
In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has appointed IAS officer Naresh Pal Gangwar as Secretary of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education, an official government notification said late Thursday night.
His replacement comes amid the ongoing NEET-UG paper leak issue and demands for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Vineet Joshi has been transferred to Secretary in the Department of Panchayati Raj.
The protesting students have been demanding accountability and education reforms.
Meanwhile, a Fast Track Court has been set up at Rouse Avenue Court to try offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of unfair means ) Act, 2024 and other related offences at Rouse Avenue. All the related cases will be transferred to the special designated fast track court.
The Judge incharge of the Mediation Centre, Tis Hazari Court, Anu Grover Baliga, has been transferred to Rouse Avenue Court as Special Judge by the Delhi High Court.
Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that the government has decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks.
The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued an order for transfer of Anu Grover Baliga, Judge-in-Mediation, Central, Tis Hazari Court, to Rouse Avenue Court as Special Judge (PC Act) (CBI) (Specially Designated Fast Track Court), to try the offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 and connected offences, at Rouse Avenue Court Complex.
The order issued by the Registrar General, Arun Bhardwaj, read as the judicial officer shall be under the control of the Principal District and Sessions Judge cum Special Judge (PC Act) (CBI), Rouse Avenue Courts Complex, New Delhi.
The Principal District & Sessions Judge cum Special Judge (PC Act) (CBI), Rouse Avenue Courts Complex, shall transfer all the pending cases under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 and connected offences to the newly created Fast Track Court, the order read.
A protest against the NEET UG Paper leak has been ongoing at Jantar Mantar for almost a month.
— ANI
Reader Comments
What a joke! Transferring Vineet Joshi to Panchayati Raj is like hiding the problem. NEET-UG affects lakhs of medical aspirants every year. If the government truly cared, they would have addressed systemic flaws years ago. The PM's sudden interest in fast-track courts just before elections feels like political drama. Students deserve real justice, not bureaucracy shell games.
Good move by the government! Fast-track courts will ensure strict punishment for paper leak mafia. I just hope the new secretary has a solid plan to restore faith in NEET. As a medical student myself, I know how stressful this is for thousands of honest aspirants. Ab system ko sudharna padega!
NEET leak has shattered the dreams of countless students who sacrificed everything for this exam. Setting up fast-track courts feels like too little too late. Why wasn't this done years ago? The education ministry needs a complete overhaul, not just a change of secretary. Humare bachon ka bhavishya kya kisi ko nahi dikhta? 😔
Respectful criticism: Transferring a secretary doesn't address the core issue of exam integrity. We need biometric attendance for invigilators, encrypted question paper delivery, and surprise audits. The government should also release the CBI report on the NEET leak to build trust. Students are not just protesting – they are fighting for their right to fair opportunity.
Can't believe this is happening again! Every year there's some exam scam. My cousin spent two years preparing for NEET and
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.