Patna HC to set up three fast-track courts for exam paper leak cases in Bihar
Patna, July 28
In a major step towards expediting the trial of examination-related offences, the Patna High Court on Tuesday decided to establish three special fast-track courts for cases involving paper leaks, cheating, and the use of unfair means in public examinations across Bihar.
The special courts will exclusively hear cases registered under the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, with the aim of ensuring their swift disposal.
According to the Patna High Court's decision, the special courts will be established in Patna, Lakhisarai, and Purnea.
Each court will be presided over by a judicial officer of the District Judge or Additional District and Sessions Judge rank.
The initiative is intended to prevent examination-related cases from remaining pending for long periods.
Cases involving paper leaks, impersonation, cheating, and other examination malpractices will now receive priority in the judicial process.
The High Court has directed that once a chargesheet is filed, these cases should be heard on a day-to-day basis, with efforts made to conclude the trial and deliver judgments within three months.
The move is expected to strengthen the legal response to examination fraud by ensuring timely action against those found guilty while also providing quicker relief to individuals falsely implicated in such cases.
The Patna High Court has also designated judicial officers to lead the three special courts.
Gaurav Singh will preside over the court in Patna, Seema Bharatiya will lead the Lakhisarai court, and Thakur Aman Kumar will oversee the Purnea court.
The Bihar government has been requested to issue the necessary notification for the establishment of the special courts and the appointment of the designated judicial officers at the earliest.
The courts are expected to become operational once the notification is issued.
Such a decision came amid nationwide protests against the paper leak in the country.
A large number of students were lodged in jail, and their families are waiting for their release.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good initiative, but I'm concerned about the due process. While we want speedy justice, we must ensure that innocent students are not wrongly punished. The three-month timeline is ambitious - hope the courts have enough resources to handle the caseload.
यह एक ऐतिहासिक फैसला है! (This is a historic decision!) As a student from Bihar, I've seen how paper leaks affect us. My younger brother's future was almost ruined by a scam during the BPSC exams. Thank you, Patna High Court, for taking this seriously. Ab kisi ko bachne nahi denge! 💪
I appreciate the court's effort, but let's be real. The problem isn't just paper leaks - it's the entire system that allows such scams to happen. Will these fast-track courts also investigate the masterminds behind these networks? Mere punishment won't work if we don't fix the root causes.
As a mother of two students preparing for competitive exams, this gives me hope. My daughter spent months studying for the NEET exam, only to hear about leaks. These fast-track courts are a great start, but we also need better security during exams. Let's not just focus on punishment; prevention is key!
What about students who are already in jail? Their families are suffering. The article says these courts will provide relief to falsely implicated individuals, but how quickly? My cousin has been in custody for three months over a cheating allegation - he says he's innocent. I hope these fast-track courts actually listen to such cases. 😔
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