Bihar Assembly Passes Anti Paper Leak Bill: Tough New Penalties for Offenders

Patna: The Bihar Assembly has passed the Anti Paper Leak Bill, marking a significant step towards curbing examination-related malpractices in the state. This bill, once signed by the Governor, will classify paper leaks as a serious crime, enforceable with stringent penalties.

Under the new law, individuals found guilty of paper leaks will face non-bailable charges, with imprisonment ranging from 3 to 10 years and fines between ₹10 lakh and ₹1 crore. These regulations will apply to all examinations conducted by the state government. Institutions involved in such activities will be blacklisted for four years.

Despite opposition protests, the bill successfully passed, leading to the House’s adjournment until 11 am on Thursday. The bill, initially scheduled for introduction on the second day of the monsoon session, faced delays due to the opposition’s uproar. Opposition MLAs walked out during the bill’s discussion, further highlighting the session’s contentious atmosphere.

The new law mandates that cases of paper leaks be investigated by an officer of DSP rank or higher. It also allows the government to assign any investigating agency to handle these cases. Speaker Nandkishore Yadav had to repeatedly call for order as opposition MLAs, demanding 75% reservation in the 9th Schedule, waved placards and shouted slogans against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

During the heated session, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar urged the opposition to sit down quietly, while Minister Vijay Chaudhary stated that the government had already recommended the reservation matter to the Center and that it was pending in court. Notably, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav and RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav were absent from the House.

Speaker Nandkishore Yadav expressed frustration with the opposition’s behavior, accusing them of deliberately disrupting the proceedings.