Bill raises unfair means fines to ₹50 lakh, 10-year jail

This Bill amends the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, to increase penalties for unfair means and create a fast-track legal process to ensure investigations are completed within two months and trials within three months.

Who it concerns: Individuals, organized groups, service providers, examination authorities, and institutions involved in public examinations; State Governments and Union Territory Administrations (for designating courts and appointing prosecutors); and the Central Government (for constituting Special Task Forces).

What the bill does

• Increases minimum imprisonment for general unfair means from 3 to 5 years and maximum from 5 to 10 years.
• Increases the fine for general unfair means from up to 10 lakh rupees to up to 50 lakh rupees.
• Increases the fine for service providers from 1 crore rupees to 5 crore rupees and extends the ban on conducting exams from 4 to 8 years.
• Increases penalties for organized crimes, raising minimum imprisonment to 7 years and minimum fine to 10 crore rupees.
• Allows the Central Government to constitute a Special Task Force for investigations, which must be completed within 2 months.
• Requires State Governments and UT Administrations to designate Courts of Session as Special Fast Track Courts.
• Mandates that trials in Special Fast Track Courts continue on a day-to-day basis and be completed within 3 months of filing the charge sheet.
• Requires the appointment of Special Public Prosecutors for these courts.
• Establishes an appeal mechanism to a bench of two High Court Judges, to be disposed of within 3 months of admission.

Also in the document

• The Bill is an amendment to an existing Act (Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024).
• It introduces specific time-bound limits for both investigation (2 months) and trial (3 months).
• It restricts appeals from Special Fast Track Courts to the High Court only, excluding other revisional jurisdictions.