Shimla: In a decisive move to safeguard the future of lakhs of young aspirants and restore integrity in public recruitment examinations, the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday passed the Himachal Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2025.
The landmark legislation, introduced by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, seeks to make offences related to paper leaks, organized cheating, and other unfair means in public examinations cognizable and non-bailable, sending a strong message that the state will no longer tolerate malpractices in its recruitment system.
The Bill has been sent to the Raj Bhavan for gubernatorial assent and is expected to become law soon.
Strict Punishments for Offenders and Service Providers
The Bill prescribes stringent penalties for individuals and organizations involved in manipulating recruitment examinations:
- For Individuals: Anyone caught cheating, abetting cheating, or leaking question papers will face 3 to 5 years of imprisonment along with a fine of up to ₹10 lakh. Both penalties may be imposed simultaneously.
- For Service Providers: If malpractice is traced back to a recruitment service provider, the penalties are even more severe. Senior management, directors, or those in charge can face 3 to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 crore. They will also be barred from conducting recruitment tests for four years.
- Recovery of Expenses: All expenses incurred on conducting compromised examinations will be recovered from the guilty parties, ensuring that taxpayers do not bear the burden of malpractice.
The Bill also provides that failure to pay fines will attract additional imprisonment under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Empowering Investigative Agencies
To ensure robust enforcement, only police officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) or above will be authorized to investigate such cases. The state government retains the authority to transfer sensitive cases to specialized investigation agencies for faster, more effective prosecution.
A Response to Past Scandals
The legislation comes in the wake of multiple examination scandals in Himachal Pradesh, including the infamous police recruitment exam paper leak of December 2022, which shook public trust and led to the suspension and eventual dissolution of the Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission in February 2023.
By introducing this law, the state aims to restore credibility, fairness, and transparency in the recruitment process and reassure lakhs of aspirants that their hard work will not be undermined by corruption or malpractices.
CM Sukhu’s Firm Stand Against Exploitative Practices
Introducing the Bill, Chief Minister Sukhu said, Malpractices in public examinations have shattered the dreams of countless youth, delayed crucial recruitment, and eroded public confidence.
It is essential to identify and eliminate such exploitative practices through a comprehensive and strict legal framework. This Bill is a commitment to every young aspirant that their talent, not corruption, will determine their future.”
Sukhu further emphasized that the law would create a deterrent effect on organized cheating networks, restore accountability, and protect the dignity of the education and recruitment ecosystem in Himachal Pradesh.
Other Bills Passed
The Vidhan Sabha also passed two other significant Bills:
- Bill on Levying Tax on Transport of Certain Goods on Roads: Provides for the recovery of outstanding taxes, aimed at strengthening revenue collection.
- The Registration (Himachal Pradesh Amendment) Bill, 2025: Introduces comprehensive legal reforms to enable online and paperless registration of documents, reducing red tape and eliminating the need for physical presence in many transactions.
A Beacon of Reform for Other States
With its bold step, Himachal Pradesh has set an example for other states grappling with similar examination scams. By combining strict penalties, modern investigative mechanisms, and a zero-tolerance approach, the government has signaled its unwavering determination to weed out corruption from recruitment processes and protect the aspirations of hardworking youth.
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