Bombay High Court Designates Two Special Courts In Aurangabad & Nagpur To Fast Track Paper Leak Cases

A day after the Central Government decided to set up special Fast Track Courts to deal with cases of malpractices in various exams including the NEET, the Bombay High Court has designated two special courts in Aurangabad and Nagpur districts. Notably, the High Court was requested by the Government to designate special courts for conducting trial of offences arising out of the Public Examinations [Prevention of Unfair Means] Act, 2024 as well as Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 at least in two major districts. The High Court was further asked to appoint 'best judicial officers' to preside over these special courts. Accordingly, Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge has designated two courts in Aurangabad and Nagpur, both to be presided over by Judge SV Pawar and Judge Gulshan Kolte, respectively. It would not be out of place to mention that as per the 2024 Act, a trial in such cases will have to be completed within 3 months. This comes after the Central Government on Thursday announced setting up of special Fast Track Courts for dealing with paper leak cases. The decision came in the backdrop of massive protests across the country and specially at Delhi's Jantar Mantar by various factions of students unions.The Delhi High Court has designated Judge Anu Grover Baliga as the Special Judge at Rouse Avenue Courts as a fast-track court to exclusively deal with criminal cases arising out of paper leaks and the use of unfair means in public examinations.