The Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly has passed a landmark bill aimed at combating unfair practices in public examinations. The “Arunachal Pradesh Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2024,” was approved during the ongoing budget session with strong support from MLA ministers.
The bill addresses the recent spate of paper leakage scandals that plagued the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission examinations, leading to arrests by the CBI and SIC. The new legislation seeks to ensure fairness and transparency in recruitment processes by imposing severe penalties for those involved in examination malpractices.
Key Provisions of the Bill:
Definitions of Unfair Practices: The bill includes detailed definitions of offenses such as unauthorized assistance, impersonation, leaking or attempting to leak question papers, and tampering with answer sheets. It also covers technological cheating and creating fake examination schemes.
Punishments: Offenders could face imprisonment from 3 to 5 years, extendable to 10 years for organized crimes. Fines could reach up to ₹1 crore for individuals and service providers. Defaulting on fines may result in additional imprisonment.
Special Courts and Investigations: Special courts, at least at the rank of Additional Sessions Judge, will handle offenses under the Act. Investigations will be conducted by senior police officers, with the option for cases to be referred to central agencies.
Property Attachment: The bill allows for the seizure and attachment of property deemed to be proceeds of crime. Institutions and their officers will be held accountable for offenses committed with their knowledge or negligence.
Liability of Management and Institutions: Service providers involved in malpractices face fines up to ₹1 crore, recovery of examination costs, and exclusion from future assignments. Examination documents must be retained for five years or until case resolution.
Scope of Application: The Act applies to all examinations conducted by state agencies, including the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission and Staff Selection Board, as well as state-funded institutions and other notified bodies.
Additional Provisions: The bill includes measures for a High-Level Enquiry Committee to investigate malpractices and empowers the state government to address implementation challenges. No additional financial burden is anticipated for the Act’s enforcement.
“The Arunachal Pradesh Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2024, marks a significant step towards ensuring the integrity of our public recruitment processes,” an official stated.
