Rajasthan govt to raise punishment for govt exam paper leak to life imprisonment

This move comes after the Rajasthan Assembly passed a Bill in March 2022, which already provided for a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs10 crore for offenses related to government exam paper leaks and cheating in recruitment tests.

The need for stricter measures arose following the cancellation of the REET level-two examination in September 2021 due to a paper leak.

"The Rajasthan government has decided to table a Bill in the next assembly session to make life imprisonment the maximum punishment under the law against paper leaks," Gehlot said in a tweet in Hindi today.

"In order to bring more transparency in competitive examinations in the state, the chief secretary has been directed to prepare a better process after discussing with the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC), Department of Personnel (DOP), Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (RSSB) and other stakeholders," he added.

The issue of paper leaks in Rajasthan has become a subject of criticism by opposition parties, particularly in light of the upcoming assembly elections scheduled later this year.

The Opposition has been targeting the ruling Congress government over its handling of the paper leak incidents and questioning its ability to maintain the integrity of recruitment exams.

The Opposition's scrutiny of this matter adds to the political dynamics in Rajasthan as the state prepares for the upcoming elections.

Amid intense criticism from the opposition BJP and to address the issue of cheating in recruitment examinations, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has announced the government's plan to introduce a Bill aimed at curbing such malpractices.

The proposed Bill is expected to strengthen measures to prevent cheating in recruitment exams and ensure the integrity of the selection process.

Meanwhile, the opposition BJP has been demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the REET paper leak case. Currently, the investigation is being conducted by the Special Operation Group of the Rajasthan Police.