Will stricter laws prevent paper leaks?

Amidst a controversy about malpractices in competitive examinations around the country, the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday passed a proposal to promulgate an ordinance to ensure stricter punishment for those who leak papers and candidates benefiting from unfair means when they take public tests.

The Union government took a similar step in the face of public anger about paper leaks and other alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for seats in medical colleges. It also faced criticism for the cancellation the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test for assistant professor positions because its integrity may have been compromised.

In the wake of these developments, the Union government on June 21 notified the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act provding for jail sentences of up to 10 years and a penalty of up to Rs 1 crore if paper leaks and exam malpractices are the result of “organised crime”.

But is harsher punishment really the solution to the problem?

Already, at least eight states have passed laws to prevent paper leak and other malpractices.

Despite this, paper leaks over the last five years have resulted in 41 recruitment exams across 15 states being cancelled, hampering the employment hopes of 1.4 crore applicants, The Indian Express reported in February. In the case of NEET itself, the Central Bureau...

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