Patna: In response to the persistent issue of examination paper leaks in Bihar, the government has crafted a stringent law aimed at tackling the problem. The Bihar Public Examination (Unfair Means Prevention) Bill-2024 is set to be introduced in the assembly on Tuesday.
The proposed legislation classifies paper leaks as a serious crime, imposing non-bailable charges on the accused once the bill is enacted. The bill stipulates severe penalties for individuals or institutions involved in such activities, with prison sentences ranging from 3 to 10 years and fines between Rs.10 lakh and Rs.1 crore. These regulations will apply to all state government-conducted examinations.
Under the new rule, investigations into paper leaks will be conducted by officers of DSP rank or higher. The government also retains the option to assign any investigative agency to the case.
Candidates found guilty of participating in exams through illegal means or violating exam rules will face imprisonment of 3 to 5 years and a fine of Rs.10 lakh. Service providers found breaching the paper leak law will incur fines of up to Rs.1 crore and be responsible for covering the exam costs. They will also face a four-year blacklisting.
If collusion between any person or group and the service provider is proven, the involved parties could face imprisonment of 5 to 10 years and fines up to Rs.1 crore. The law also includes provisions for the attachment of the property of the offending organization.
Should it be established during an investigation that an exam service provider was aware of irregularities but failed to act, a fine of up to Rs.1 crore can be imposed. Moreover, senior officers implicated in such incidents could face up to 10 years in prison and fines up to Rs.1 crore.
