In Bihar, the state assembly today passed a stringent bill to curb paper leak cases, malpractices and irregularities in government competitive examinations.

The Bihar Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 which proposes a jail sentence from three years to 10 years and a penalty of up to one crore rupees in serious cases was introduced by Water Resource Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary.

Mr. Choudhary said in the House that in recent times so many incidents of paper leak and irregularities happened in the country including Bihar. He said the intention of the bill is to instil the faith of meritorious and other candidates in public bodies which conduct examinations.

As per the provisions of the Bill, all the competitive recruitment and entrance examinations conducted by government agencies will come under its mandate.

There is the provision of stringent punishment for convicted candidates who are involved in paper leak cases and malpractices which includes sentences to jail terms from three to five years and penalty up to 10 lakh rupees. All the charges of paper leak cases have been made cognizable offences in this bill.

In the Bill, there is a provision for seizure of the assets of convicts who are entrusted to hold examinations. All the government bodies which conduct competitive examinations will come under its purview. The Bihar Public Service Commission, Bihar University Service Commission, Bihar Staff Service Commission, Bihar Technical Services Commission, Central Selection Board of Constables, Bihar Police Sub-Ordinate Services Commission and other notified authorities will come under the mandate of the bill.