Onlykashmir.in News Desk
New Delhi, July 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced tougher legal measures against examination paper leaks, the Delhi High Court constituted a special fast-track court to hear paper leak cases, activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike after government outreach, and Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh renewed an invitation to the CJP and protesting students for talks, as the Centre stepped up efforts to tackle the ongoing examination paper leak controversy through legal reforms and dialogue.
In a late-night video message, the Prime Minister said the Union Cabinet would on Friday consider a draft law providing for fast-track courts and stricter punishment in examination paper leak cases. He said the proposed legislation would be introduced in Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session and described paper leaks as a grave threat to the country’s education system and the future of millions of students.
Modi said the government’s immediate priority after the alleged NEET paper leak was to ensure that students did not lose an academic year. Nearly 2.2 million candidates reappeared for the examination in record time, with the results declared on July 19. While several accused had already been arrested, he said stronger legal and institutional safeguards were needed to prevent such incidents in the future.
Within hours of the Prime Minister’s announcement, the Delhi High Court issued a notification establishing a special fast-track court to exclusively hear cases related to alleged examination paper leaks. According to the notification, Judge Anu Grover Baliga has been appointed to preside over the newly created court at the Rouse Avenue Court Complex. The court will hear cases under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, along with related offences, and all pending cases under the Act will be transferred to it for speedy disposal.
Meanwhile, activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike in the presence of Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh. The decision came after the Centre assured that additional measures to curb examination paper leaks would be announced following Friday’s Cabinet meeting.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also renewed the government’s invitation for talks with the CJP and protesting students, saying four formal proposals for dialogue had already been sent. He said discussions could be held at Union Minister J.P. Nadda’s residence or office and reiterated that the government remained committed to resolving the issue through constructive engagement.
The CJP, however, rejected the proposal, insisting that any dialogue should take place at Jantar Mantar or another neutral venue. The organisation also sought assurances that no fresh FIRs would be registered and that no punitive action would be taken against protesters participating in the agitation.
The developments come amid continuing nationwide protests over the alleged examination paper leak issue, with the Opposition demanding accountability in Parliament while the government maintains that strict legal action, institutional reforms and dialogue with stakeholders are all part of its response to restore confidence in the examination system.
