HP’s new law on exam fraud necessary
The Tribune Editorial: Punishment carries penalties as steep as five to 10 years in jail and fines up to Rs 1 crore.
HIMACHAL Pradesh has drawn a hard line. With the Governor giving assent to the Himachal Pradesh Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, the state has become the latest to criminalise paper leaks, organised cheating and facilitation of copying as non-bailable and cognisable offences, carrying penalties as steep as five to 10 years in jail and fines up to Rs 1 crore. In today’s climate of recurring exam scandals, this hard law is needed. India’s recruitment ecosystem has been repeatedly shaken by scandal after scandal. Each cancelled exam has meant shattered dreams for lakhs of young aspirants who spend years preparing, often with limited financial means and enormous emotional investment. Every paper leak is an act that steals livelihoods, undermines trust and pushes students into despair. Himachal has seen multiple controversies in police, revenue and other recruitment exams over the past decade.
