Congress MP leader Jitu Patwari on NEET and UGC-NET issues

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari on Saturday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, alleging that the BJP was behind the leaks of paper.

“No matter how many laws PM Modi passes against paper leaks, no matter how many speeches he gives, but wherever the paper is leaked, there is a college associated with the BJP, workers of ABVP, professors and vice-chancellors linked to ABVP are coming forward wherever Paper leak incidents occur, be it UPSC, MPPSC, NEET or . UGC-NET, wherever RSS and BJP influenced people are their employees and the paper is leaked from there,” Patwari said.

“If any leader is caught in paper leak, that person belongs to BJP. Similarly, if workers are caught, then they belong to BJP. People supported by BJP are coming forward in the paper leak case, which means BJP is doing this “You (BJP) cannot take action against your people and cannot punish them. Your intentions are wrong. Do you want to mislead the people of the country by passing laws to prevent paper,” Patwari asked.

Notably, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which aims to prevent unfair means in public examinations and common entrance tests held across the country, came into force on Friday.

This comes amid a massive row over alleged malpractices in the conduct of NEET and UGC NET exams.

A gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions stated: “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Public Examinations Act, 2024 ( prevention of unfair means) (1 of 2024). ), the Central Government shall fix June 21, 2024 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force.” The Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament during the Budget Session which concluded on February 10 It aims to prevent the use of “unfair means” in public examinations and to provide “more transparency, fairness and credibility”.

On February 13, President Droupadi Murmu gave the green light to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, which aims to check cheating in government recruitment exams.

Statutory public examinations refer to examinations conducted by authorities notified by the central government. These include Union Public Service Commission, Staff Selection Commission, Railway Recruitment Board, National Testing Agency, Institute of Staff Selection banking and central government departments and their attached offices for recruitment.

The law also prohibits the premature disclosure of confidential examination-related information and the entry of unauthorized persons into examination centers to create disruptions. The offenses will be punishable with imprisonment of three to five years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh.

All offenses under the Bill will be cognizable, non-bailable and non-prosecutable.

Published on: Saturday, June 22, 2024, 4:50 p.m. IST