On Wednesday, the Bihar assembly passed the Bihar Public Examinations (PE) (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, in an effort to tackle the pervasive issue of question paper leaks and other forms of malpractice in state recruitment tests.
Key Highlights of the Bill:
- Sponsorship: The bill was introduced by State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary.
- Legislative Process: The bill was passed through a voice vote, despite a walkout staged by the opposition.
- Objective: The legislation is designed to address and prevent malpractices in competitive examinations within the state.
Provisions of the Bill:
- Punishments for Malpractices:
- Prison Term: Offenders could face imprisonment ranging from three to five years.
- Fines: A fine of up to Rs 10 lakh may be imposed on those found guilty.
- Penalties for Service Providers:
- Fines: Service providers responsible for conducting exams can be fined up to Rs one crore.
- Debarment: They may also face debarment from providing services for up to four years.
- Property Attachment: In severe cases, the properties of service providers may be attached.
- Cost Recovery: A portion of the examination cost will be recovered from the offending service provider.
- Investigation Protocol:
- Investigating Officers: Cases will be investigated by officers not below the rank of a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Context and Background:
- The legislation comes amid recent controversies, including the NEET 2024 paper leak and the Bihar Public Service Commission’s (BPSC) Teachers Recruitment Exam (TRE 3.0) paper leak case.
- The bill follows similar stringent anti-paper leak measures enacted by other states and the central government, including Uttar Pradesh.
This new legislation aims to strengthen the integrity of recruitment processes and restore public confidence in the fairness of competitive examinations in Bihar.
