Rajasthan To Bring Bill Provisioning Life Imprisonment To Curb Recruitment Exam Paper Leaks
The Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, announced on Tuesday that the state government will introduce a new Bill in the upcoming assembly session to increase the severity of punishment for individuals involved in the leakage of recruitment exam papers. Under the proposed legislation, the quantum of punishment will be raised from 10 years to life imprisonment. Gehlot also instructed the chief secretary to ensure enhanced transparency in competitive exams after holding discussions with the Rajasthan Public Service Commission, the Department of Personnel, the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board, and other relevant stakeholders.
In March 2022, the state assembly passed a Bill that prescribed imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of Rs 10 crore for offenses related to government exam paper leaks and cheating in recruitment tests. This decision was made following the cancellation of the REET level-two examination in September 2021 due to a paper leak. The opposition parties in Rajasthan have consistently criticized the Congress government over the issue of paper leaks, with assembly elections scheduled later this year.
During his 'Jan Sangharsh Yatra' in Jaipur, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot presented three demands, which included the reconstitution of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission, compensation for affected youths due to government exam paper leaks, and a high-level investigation into allegations of corruption against the previous Vasundhara Raje government. Chief Minister Gehlot, in a Hindi tweet, stated, "To enhance transparency in competitive examinations in the state, the Chief Secretary has been directed to devise an improved process in consultation with RPSC, DOP, RSSB, and other stakeholders." He further added, "It has been decided to introduce a Bill in the upcoming assembly session to establish life imprisonment as the maximum penalty for paper leaks."
The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for a CBI investigation into the REET paper leak case, which is currently being examined by the Special Operation Group of the Rajasthan Police.