The ruling governement in Jharkhand and the opposition are at loggerheads over the controversial Jharkhand Competitive Examination Bill (Prevention and Redressal of unfair means in Recruitment) 2023 ) bill. The bill which was introduced and passed by the Jharkhand state assembly recently will become a law after the Authorisation of the governor and a gazetted notification.
However the bill passed by the state assembly is turning heads due to its strict provisions where anyone found to be guilty of cheating in the examination would be liable for a one year imprisonment, the accused will also be barred from participating in competitive examination right from the filing of chargesheet in the case for two to five years.
Further he will be barred from appearing in the competitive examination for 10 years if proven guilty in the court, the accused would also have to bear a fine of Rs five lakhs if proven guilty. The same person would also be liable for a 3 year imprisonment and a whopping fine of Rs 10 lakhs if found to be guilty of cheating again.
The bill also has provisions in dealing with the paper leaks and organised syndicates associated with it. According to the provisions of the bill any individual or coaching institute, printing press or any other contractual person found to be guilty of paper leak would be liable for a life imprisonment.
Additionally a fine between Rs 2-10cr can also be imposed on the accused person. The same provisions would also be liable for those who conspire with the examination commission under an organized syndicate. Further, the bill also has a provision for dealing with the paper theft and OMR sheet destruction along with providing a freehand to the magistrate to investigate and arrest upon receiving any information or suspicion of foul play in the examinations.
Under the provisions of the bill the government can also attach the property of the accused earned illegally by muddling in the examinations. All the examinations conducted by bodies like Jharkhand public service commission (JPSC), Jharkhand staff selection commission (JSSC) along with other local bodies such as municipalities will fall under the scope of the law.
Meanwhile, a few provisions of the bill have sparked a row between the government and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) who while opposing the bill has termed it draconian in nature to put pressure on those who would raise a voice against the government.
Taking to twitter, Babulal Marandi while highlighting a few provisions of the bill said that the Hemant Sarkar on the name of Jharkhand Competitive Examination bill has introduced a law even horrifying than the Britishers. The provisions of the bill are more powerful and threatening than the POCSO, SC/ST Acts.
Further while highlighting a few provisions of the bill, Marandi said that ‘the candidates who would raise questions on the examination would be barred from participating in any competitive examination for 10 years, while any officer will be given the power to investigate any building, place, complexes. By using the power of the act the officer can also break any lockers, self, doors and Almira.’
“It also has a provision to lodge an FIR against any such individuals without conducting an primary investigation, anyone can be held without an enquiry. Once it becomes a law no candidates would be able to raise a voice against the government”, added Marandi.
Meanwhile a BJP delegation led by Marandi also met the governor C.P Radhakrishnan on August 4 and submitted a memorandum about their concern pertaining to the bill. Speaking with the media on the matter, Babulal Marandi quoted that the Soren government has brought a bill to promote misconduct not to stop it, bodies like Jharkhand public service commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand state service commission (JSSC) promote misconduct.
हेमंत सरकार में कदाचार तो JPSC और JSSC में हो रहा है, सरकार ने कदाचार रोकने नहीं, बढ़ाने के लिए यह काला कानून लाया है: प्रदेश अध्यक्ष श्री @yourBabulal जी pic.twitter.com/b9BhYNTDEm
— BJP JHARKHAND (@BJP4Jharkhand) August 4, 2023
You see when bodies like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conduct an examination no outrage is seen after that. On the other hand when they (Jharkhand government) issues a notification there are amendments on a number of times, sometimes the paper gets leaked some time the other things occur, everything is visible added the BJP leader.
