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The bill provides for stringent punishment for those involved in such malpractices, including a jail term of three to five years and a fine of Rs 10 lakh. (Representative/File photo)
The new law aims to curb malpractices, including question paper leaks, in competitive exams in the state, which, incidentally, has also been at the centre of the NEET 2024 paper leak controversy.
The Bihar Assembly on Wednesday passed a bill aimed at curbing question paper leaks and other malpractices in recruitment examinations conducted in the state.
The Bihar Public Examination (PE) (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, was introduced by state parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary and was passed by voice vote amid a walkout by the Opposition.
The new law aims to curb malpractices, including question paper leaks, in competitive exams in the state, which, incidentally, has also been at the centre of the NEET 2024 paper leak controversy.
The Bill provides for stringent punishment for those involved in such malpractices, including a jail term of three to five years and a fine of Rs 10 lakh.
Chowdhary told the House that the service providers (the term used for agencies conducting such tests) can be fined up to Rs one crore, besides their services can be banned for four years and even their property can be confiscated.
The Minister said that a part of the total cost of conducting such investigation will also be recovered from the guilty service provider.
He also said that the bill has been brought “keeping in mind the future of lakhs of young men and women”, with a provision that the investigating officer in such cases “shall not be below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.”
It is worth noting that the state has recently been in the headlines due to the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) Teacher Recruitment Examination (TRE 3.0) paper leak case.
The new law comes in the backdrop of stringent anti-paper leak laws enacted by the Centre and states like Uttar Pradesh.
(This story has not been edited by AyraNews24x7 staff and is published from syndicated news agency feeds.) PTI,
