Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a proposed law to tackle exam paper leakage, along with setting up fast-track courts for cases involving crime. Explaining the proposed legislation, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said it would provide for faster investigations, daily court hearings and time-bound justice for students affected by paper leakage cases.
The proposed measures come in the wake of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over NEET paper leak.
A new draft law gives priority to the speed of trials
Arjun Ram Meghwal said the proposed bill seeks to speed up the legal process in paper leak cases by ensuring that pending matters are heard in dedicated fast-track courts.
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Referring to the discussions held by the government on Thursday, Meghwal said the proposal reflects the Centre’s focus on delivering justice to youth affected by examination irregularities.
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“The decision taken by the Prime Minister yesterday that cases related to leak of papers pending in courts will be heard in dedicated fast-track courts is an important decision. This will include daily hearings, speedy trials and time-bound investigations, which will provide justice to the youth. This is an important decision. In the same process, discussions continued throughout the day yesterday,” he told news agency ANI.
The government links legal reforms to justice for students
The Law Minister said the proposed framework aims to ensure that investigations are completed within a specified timetable and court proceedings move forward without unnecessary delay. He stressed that these measures will help achieve justice more quickly in paper leakage cases.
The Center renews the call for parliamentary debate
Besides outlining the proposed legal measures, Megwal appealed to the opposition parties to allow Parliament to function so that the pending legislation can be taken up.
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Regarding the request to discuss paper leaks, he said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has already expressed the government’s readiness to discuss the issue.
“We again ask the Opposition to allow parliamentary proceedings to continue so that important bills can be discussed. If you want to discuss paper leaks first, our Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Kiren Rijiju, has already said that we can discuss paper leaks first. Now, they are pointing to the rules, saying ‘do it in 267’ in the Rajya Sabha, and they are stuck on 56 here. It is a matter of debate, so why impose conditions? Discuss it, do it in,” the law minister said. Paper leaks, what measures were taken, who participated in them – and the discussion of all this will be presented to the country, and this is what the government wants.”
Union Minister Bhupinder Yadav also criticized the Opposition’s approach on the NEET issue, saying Parliament is the right platform for a detailed discussion. He added that the government invited the opposition to hold talks and urged them to avoid politicizing the matter.
“I believe the opposition should not resort to unnecessary politics, create agitation and exploit circumstances for small political gains. Parliament is a key forum where full discussion should take place,” Yadav said.
(with ANI inputs)
