Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 24 announced that the Centre will introduce a bill in Parliament next week to strengthen legal action against examination paper leaks, saying the proposed legislation will first be discussed by the Union Cabinet before being finalised.
In a video message, Modi said the draft bill would be taken up by the Cabinet later in the day, where ministers would deliberate on its provisions and offer suggestions before it is approved.
“On Monday, when the second week of the Monsoon Session of Parliament begins, a bill will be introduced with provisions for strong action against paper leaks, and we will try to pass it as early as possible,” the Prime Minister said.
Describing paper leaks as a matter of grave concern, Modi said such incidents inflict significant hardship on lakhs of students and their families. He noted that the government had initiated several measures after allegations of irregularities in the NEET examination surfaced around two-and-a-half months ago.
“The guilty have been caught. They are now in jail,” Modi said, adding that the government’s immediate priority had been to ensure that students did not lose an academic year.
He said the authorities conducted the re-test without delay by mobilising all available resources, enabling nearly 22 lakh students to appear for the examination. According to the Prime Minister, the results of the medical entrance re-test were declared on July 19, bringing relief to successful candidates across the country.
Modi, however, said the government did not consider the issue resolved with the declaration of the results alone and emphasised the need for stronger legal and judicial measures.
“That is why I have given directions to the authorities concerned to set up fast-track courts. The fast-track courts have already been established,” he said.
