Cabinet Clears Tougher Anti-Paper Leak Bill; Centre Holds Talks With Student Protest Group

Amid the ongoing paper leak controversy and student protests across the country, the Union government on Friday moved on two fronts by approving a draft of a tougher anti-paper leak law while simultaneously holding talks with representatives of the protesting Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in New Delhi.

The decisions came after meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), and the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tougher law against paper leak mafias

The Union Cabinet discussed and approved the draft of amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, making the proposed law more stringent.

The Centre is expected to introduce the amended Bill during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Under the proposed amendments:

Special fast-track courts will be authorised to hear paper leak cases.

Investigations and trials will be completed within three months.

Convicts could face up to 10 years' imprisonment.

The law also proposes a fine of up to ₹10 crore for those found guilty of paper leak offences.

PM Modi: Playing with students' future will not be tolerated

Ahead of the Cabinet decision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said paper leaks were not ordinary crimes but an attack on the future of millions of students.

He said the government was committed to bringing in a stronger legal framework to ensure the strictest possible action against those involved in paper leak rackets.

"Paper leaks are not an ordinary issue. They are linked to the future of millions of students and their families. The government is bringing this new law to ensure the strictest action against those responsible," the Prime Minister said.

Centre holds talks with protesting students

Separately, representatives of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) met Union ministers at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi to discuss the students' demands.

The venue was chosen after the protest group reportedly declined to meet at government offices or ministers' residences, insisting on talks at a neutral location.

Key demands raised by CJP

During the meeting, the student representatives demanded:

The resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Accountability for irregularities in competitive examinations.

Withdrawal of cases registered against students during the protests.

The Centre's twin approach—engaging with protesting students while simultaneously tightening the legal framework against paper leak networks—signals an effort to address both immediate concerns over examination integrity and long-term reforms to the public examination system.