PM Modi said the government’s immediate priority after the alleged NEET paper leak was to ensure that students did not lose an academic year.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a video message posted at 11.52 pm on Thursday, announced that the Union Cabinet will on Friday discuss a draft law providing for fast-track courts and stricter punishment in paper leak cases, saying the government would make every effort to get the legislation passed by Parliament at the earliest during the ongoing Monsoon Session.
In a nearly three-minute video message shared on social media, Modi said examination paper leaks had caused immense pain to lakhs of students and their parents and asserted that the government was determined to ensure such incidents were dealt with more effectively.
“This is not a minor issue. It has caused immense pain to lakhs of students and their parents,” the Prime Minister said.
PM Modi said the government’s immediate priority after the alleged NEET paper leak was to ensure that students did not lose an academic year.
“Our foremost responsibility was to ensure that students did not lose an academic year. It was essential to conduct the examinations at the earliest,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the government mobilised its full administrative machinery to conduct the re-examination for nearly 2.2 million students, adding that the results were declared on July 19.
“The government used its full capacity to organise the exams for nearly 2.2 million students in the shortest possible time. Just five or six days ago, on the 19th, the results were declared, and reports of successful candidates celebrating their achievements have been coming in from across the country,” he said.
Modi said the government had already taken action against those involved in the alleged paper leak, with several accused arrested and jailed, but stressed that those measures alone were not enough.
“But we are not the kind of people who are satisfied with just that. Therefore, today I directed the departments to prepare provisions for fast-track courts,” he said.
According to the Prime Minister, officials worked through the day to prepare the draft legislation, which was submitted to him late on Thursday.
“The draft law includes provisions for fast-track courts and stringent punishment. It will be discussed in the Cabinet tomorrow. After incorporating the suggestions of Cabinet colleagues, the Bill will be given its final shape,” he said.