NEET paper leak: Fast-track courts to be established in four states under new anti-cheating law

The Central Government has initiated the process to establish fast-track courts in four states to try NEET paper leak cases. Under the Public Examinations Act, 2024, offenders face daily hearings, up to five years in prison, and ₹10 lakh fines

New Delhi: 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.

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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.