The Odisha Cabinet has approved a proposal for legislation aimed at curbing unfair practices, including cheating and impersonation, in public examinations conducted by the state government.
During a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on November 13 evening, the Cabinet endorsed the Odisha Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.
In a media briefing following the Cabinet meeting, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja stated that the provisions of the proposed Odisha Act mirror those of the Centre’s Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The primary goal is to eliminate unfair practices at both individual and institutional levels and to uphold the integrity of public examinations.
The proposed legislation will impose penalties for actions such as impersonation, cheating, disrupting the examination process, leaking information about exams before their scheduled time, and unauthorized entry into examination halls. These offences will be punishable during public exams conducted by government agencies in the state.
“All offences under this Act will be cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable. Individuals found guilty of employing unfair means will face imprisonment ranging from three to five years and fines of up to ten lakh rupees,” according to the Cabinet note.
The Act will encompass public exams conducted by the Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC), Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC), Odisha Subordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC), Service Selection Board, Odisha Police Selection Board, and the State Selection Board established under the Odisha Education (Selection Board for the State) Rules, 1992, as well as the Odisha Joint Entrance Examination, regulated by the Odisha Professional Educational Institution (Regulation of Admission and Fixation of Fee) Act, 2007, and various State Government departments and their subordinate offices involved in staff recruitment.
“The service provider will also be liable to penalties, including a fine of up to one crore rupees, with proportionate examination costs to be recovered from them. In cases of default in fine payment, additional imprisonment will be imposed in accordance with the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023,” the note added.
Sources indicate that the Bill is expected to be introduced in the upcoming winter session of the Odisha Vidhan Sabha, scheduled for November 26.
In 1988, the Odisha government enacted the Orissa Conduct of Examinations Act to combat unfair practices in examinations held by various school and university examination bodies. However, this legislation prescribed a punishment of only three months’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 500.
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