What is Anti Paper Leak Law? Jail and Punishment

The central government announced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, designed to curb unfair practices in public examinations and common entrance tests nationwide. This announcement follows widespread controversy over alleged misconduct in the administration of the NEET and UGC NET exams.

The central government has enacted the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, Anti Paper Leak Law or to combat cheating in various national exams, proposing severe punishments. This legislation, known informally as the Anti Paper Leak Law, aims to address the rampant issues of paper leaks and cheating that have plagued public examinations across India. Here’s an in-depth look at the law, its objectives, and Jail and Punishment in below article.

What is Anti Paper Leak Law?

The Anti Paper Leak Law, was notified by the central government to prevent unfair practices in public examinations and common entrance tests held nationwide. This legislative move follows significant controversies over alleged malpractices in the NEET and UGC NET examinations.

The Act was passed in both Houses of Parliament during the Budget session, which concluded on February 10, 2024, and received presidential assent from President Droupadi Murmu on February 13, 2024. The primary objective of the Act is to tackle cheating in government recruitment exams by introducing stringent measures to ensure transparency, fairness, and credibility in the examination process.

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Key Provisions of Anti Paper Leak Law

Severe Punishments for Offenders

 Anti Paper Leak Law proposes severe punishments for those found guilty of cheating or facilitating cheating in public examinations. The law stipulates:

• Jail: A minimum of three to five years for general cheating offenses.
• Organized Crime Penalties: For those involved in organized cheating crimes, including examination authorities or service providers, the punishment ranges from five to ten years of imprisonment.
• Punishment: A minimum fine of Rs 1 crore for organized cheating offenses.

Protection for Candidates

The Act explicitly protects candidates appearing in the examinations from its punitive provisions. Instead, they will be governed by the existing unfair means policy of the examination-conducting authority. This ensures that the law targets those orchestrating the cheating rather than the examinees.

Definition of ‘Unfair Means’

The Act provides a comprehensive definition of ‘unfair means,’ which includes:

• Leaking question papers or answer keys.
• Assisting candidates during exams through unauthorized communication or providing solutions.
• Tampering with computer networks or resources.
• Impersonating candidates.
• Conducting fake examinations or issuing fake documents.
• Tampering with documents for merit lists or ranks.

Anti Paper Leak Law: Investigation and Enforcement

The offences under this law are non-bailable. Investigations can be conducted by officers not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police or Assistant Commissioner of Police. Furthermore, the central government has the authority to refer any investigation to a central agency, ensuring thorough and unbiased scrutiny.

Anti Paper Leak Coverage

The Anti Paper Leak Law encompasses a broad range of examinations, including those conducted by:

• Union Public Service Commission (UPSC)
• Staff Selection Commission (SSC)
• Railways
• Banking recruitment examinations
• All computer-based examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)

Will This Law Affect Candidates?

Candidates appearing in competitive examinations are explicitly excluded from the punitive scope of this law. Union Minister Jitendra Singh emphasized during the bill’s presentation in Parliament that the Anti Paper Leak Law is designed to enhance transparency in public examinations and protect the future of the youth. Therefore, candidates are shielded from the harsh penalties imposed by the Act.

Conclusion

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, represents a significant step towards eradicating cheating and malpractices in public examinations. By introducing stringent punishments and robust investigative measures, the Act aims to restore confidence in the examination system, ensuring that the efforts of honest candidates are duly recognized and their futures secured.

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