Key Points:
Bill Enactment: The Jharkhand Competitive Examination (Measure for Control and Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2023, received approval from the Governor.
Harsh Penalties: Life imprisonment and fines up to Rs.10 crore for instances of cheating in competitive exams.
Graduated Punishments:
First Instance: Fine of Rs.5 lakh and one-year imprisonment, extendable by nine months without fine payment.
Second Instance: Rs.10 lakh fine and three-year jail term, extendable by 30 months for non-payment.
Examination Ban: Guilty individuals barred from competitive exams for a decade.
Wider Scope: Involvement of printing presses, management systems, transporters, and coaching institutes in cheating leads to severe punishments.
Financial Consequences: Fines from Rs.2 crore to Rs.10 crore, with additional imprisonment for non-payment.
FIR Restrictions: Bill restricts filing FIRs by candidates and media regarding exam papers and answer sheets.
Jharkhand's New Bill on Exam Cheating: Analysis of Pros and Cons
Pros:
1. Deterrent Effect: The stringent punishments are likely to act as a strong deterrent against cheating in competitive exams.
2. Integrity of Education System: Helps maintain the credibility and fairness of the educational and recruitment processes.
3. Reduction in Malpractices: Likely to lead to a decrease in organized cheating rackets and corruption in the examination system.
4. Increased Accountability: Holds various stakeholders like printing presses, transport, and coaching institutes accountable, ensuring a holistic approach to curbing unfair practices.
Cons:
1. Severity of Punishment: Life imprisonment and hefty fines might be seen as excessively harsh for the nature of the crime.
2. Potential for Misuse: Strict regulations may lead to misuse of power or false accusations.
3. Legal and Ethical Concerns: The prohibition on filing FIRs by candidates and media raises concerns about transparency and freedom of speech.
4. Pressure on Students: Such severe consequences might increase stress and fear among students appearing for competitive exams.
5. Implementation Challenges: Ensuring fair and unbiased enforcement of such stringent laws could be challenging.
SRIRAM’s
