The Bihar assembly passed a bill on Wednesday aimed at preventing question paper leaks and other malpractices in state recruitment tests. The Bihar Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, was approved by voice vote amid an opposition walkout.
The legislation imposes strict penalties for malpractice, including three to five years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10 lakh.This measure comes in response to issues like the NEET 2024 paper leak controversy.
Service providers, a term used to describe agencies entrusted with conducting such tests, could be slapped with a fine of Rs one crore besides debarment of services for up to four years and even attachment of properties, Chaudhary told the House.
A portion of the total cost of conducting such an examination will also be recovered from the offending service provider, the minister said.
He also said the bill, “brought with the future of lakhs of young men and women in mind”, provided that investigating officers in such cases shall “not be below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police”.
It may be recalled that the state has, of late, been in the news for the Bihar Public Service Commission’s (BPSC) Teachers Recruitment Exam (TRE 3.0) paper leak case.
The new legislation also comes in the backdrop of stringent anti-paper leak laws enacted by the Centre and states like Uttar Pradesh.
The legislation imposes strict penalties for malpractice, including three to five years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10 lakh.This measure comes in response to issues like the NEET 2024 paper leak controversy.
Service providers, a term used to describe agencies entrusted with conducting such tests, could be slapped with a fine of Rs one crore besides debarment of services for up to four years and even attachment of properties, Chaudhary told the House.
A portion of the total cost of conducting such an examination will also be recovered from the offending service provider, the minister said.
He also said the bill, “brought with the future of lakhs of young men and women in mind”, provided that investigating officers in such cases shall “not be below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police”.
It may be recalled that the state has, of late, been in the news for the Bihar Public Service Commission’s (BPSC) Teachers Recruitment Exam (TRE 3.0) paper leak case.
The new legislation also comes in the backdrop of stringent anti-paper leak laws enacted by the Centre and states like Uttar Pradesh.
