Gujarat Governor gives assent to stringent bill to tackle exam paper leaks

The Bill prescribes jail up to 10 years to those involved in such malpractices and may face fines of up to ₹1 crore

Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat has given his assent to a Bill brought by the State's BJP government in the ongoing Budget session to curb recruitment exam paper leaks which prescribes jail up to 10 years to those involved in such malpractices and may face fines of up to ₹1 crore.

The Gujarat Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2023 was unanimously passed in the House on February 24, and Governor Devvrat has given his assent, Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi said on Monday.

As per provisions of the Bill, those involved in malpractices like exam paper leaks could be jailed for up to 10 years and may face fines of up to ₹1 crore.

The legislation is meant to punish those who either leak a question paper of a recruitment exam, procure a question paper in an unauthorised manner or solve such a paper illegally.

The Bill says any candidate indulging in such activities will be punished with imprisonment up to three years, and shall also be liable for a fine of not less than ₹1 lakh.

A person who obstructs or threatens any member of the inspection team or a person appointed by the examination authority shall be punished with imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of not less than ₹1 lakh.

Any person, including an examinee, who indulges in unfair means or contravenes any of the provisions of the Act, shall be punished with imprisonment of five years, which may extend up to 10 years.