Up to 10-year jail & Rs 10 crore fine: Cabinet clears tougher anti-paper leak bill

NEW DELHI: The Union cabinet on Friday approved amendments to the Prevention of Paper Leak law, proposing tougher penalties for those involved in examination paper leaks.According to sources, the proposed legislation provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore.It also seeks to increase the minimum imprisonment for individuals convicted in paper leak cases from the current three years to five years.The move comes amid nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and growing demands for stricter safeguards to protect the integrity of competitive exams.Government to introduce Bill in Parliament soonParliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the government would soon introduce the legislation in Parliament, adding that the PM Modi had directed that there should be no delay in bringing the Bill."We are preparing to present the bill, but after you receive the briefing on our cabinet decision, we will inform you about our timing. The Prime Minister has said that there should be no delay in the bill we are bringing regarding students. The country also wants what the Prime Minister has said, so it would not be right to resort to any tactics to obstruct it... Congress will fall into this if they continue to disrupt the parliamentary proceedings. We are taking important steps for the future of the students. If the Congress party continues to create all kinds of hurdles to prevent parliamentary discussion, then they will have to face the brunt of the youth of this nation and, in fact, the entire nation," Rijiju said.Rijiju criticises Opposition over Parliament disruptionsRijiju accused the Opposition of preventing a discussion on the NEET paper leak issue in Parliament, saying the government had repeatedly sought a debate."For 5 days, we were unable to discuss the NEET paper leak. So, we appealed today as well. Our minister will brief us on the important cabinet decision. Rahul Gandhi was in the House today, so we asked that the debate begin immediately. Now, the Congress party has shown that it's not interested in debate. Those who were protesting, and Sonam Wangchuk, the most prominent figure among the protesters, also broke his hunger strike and said that the discussion should take place now. I don't think there's any benefit in politicising this. We should focus on how to take concrete steps and the future of the students," he said.The minister appealed to the Opposition to allow Parliament to function, saying the focus should remain on strengthening the examination system."The future of the students and how we can ensure a proper and very strong system in place for the future of the students; this has to be our priority. By disrupting the parliamentary procedures and the House, it will not yield any result. I would like to request once again of Rahul Gandhi and all the opposition members that better sense should prevail. You cannot indefinitely create trouble in the Parliament to prevent discussion. It is wasting the time of all of the members... It is very critical to let the Parliament function, and when all matters are to be discussed. Taking to the demands of all the members: Why the Congress Party and some of their allies are disturbing the parliamentary proceedings. I do not understand. It would be nice if they could make any demands. But they can make it during their intervention," Rijiju said.Cabinet decision comes amid talks with protesting studentsThe Cabinet's decision comes a day after Union ministers held talks with representatives of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which has been leading protests over the NEET paper leak controversy.Following the meeting, CJP leaders said the government had sought time till Saturday afternoon to decide on their demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. They also claimed the Centre had given in-principle approval to two other demands, including compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide and withdrawal of FIRs and legal cases against protesting students.The government initiated the dialogue after social activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike following written assurances from the Centre on reforms to the competitive examination system. Ahead of the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced that the government would consider a draft Bill providing for fast-track courts and stricter punishment for paper leak offenders, saying, "More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow's Cabinet!"Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.