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Officials say the comprehensive nature of the bill ensures that all possible forms of fraud are covered, leaving no room for criminals to exploit loopholes. (Representative image/PTI)
The bill proposes stringent penalties for those leaking exam question papers, including a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore.
The Maharashtra government has decided to take strict action after rising incidents of exam paper leaks across the country generated widespread concern. A new bill aimed at preventing malpractices in competitive exams was introduced in the assembly on Friday. The bill proposes stringent punishment for those found leaking exam papers, including a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore.
Minister Shambhuraj Desai, who introduced the bill, stressed its importance in maintaining the integrity of competitive exams. He explained that the bill targets all those who engage in or support any kind of malpractice during exams. This includes illegal use of written or unwritten material, copied or printed material and information obtained through electronic devices. Essentially, anyone who attempts to gain unfair advantage through unauthorized means will face severe consequences.
All crimes under this new Act will be considered serious and will be non-bailable. The punishment is imprisonment of three to ten years, which shows the government’s determination to eradicate these evil practices. Apart from the jail sentence, the offenders will also have to pay a hefty fine ranging from Rs 10 lakh to one crore. The bill makes it clear that non-compliance of these rules may result in additional imprisonment.
The bill also lays down how these crimes will be investigated. Only senior officers can handle these cases, not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police or assistant commissioner of police. This ensures that only experienced and competent officers are in charge of the investigation. Additionally, the state government has the power to hand over the investigation to any state investigating agency, allowing for specialized and in-depth investigations.
Minister Desai highlighted that this Bill is an important step towards ensuring fairness in competitive examinations. Paper leaks and other methods of cheating not only harm the credibility of the examination process but also discourage hardworking and deserving candidates. By implementing strict measures, the Government aims to create an examination environment where success is based only on merit and hard work.
The bill also seeks to hold accountable those who help facilitate such malpractices. This includes all those who provide unauthorised assistance, illegally share information using electronic devices or engage in activities that compromise the integrity of the exams. Officials say the comprehensive nature of the bill ensures that all possible forms of cheating are covered, leaving no room for offenders to exploit loopholes.
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