Centre's Anti-Paper Leak Law Exposes Gaps in Haryana's 2021 Act
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
The Haryana government's anti-paper leak law, enacted in 2021, has shown limited prosecution success, with only 12 of 17 FIRs reaching chargesheet stage by end of 2025. This comes as the Centre fast-tracks its own 2024 anti-paper leak law, highlighting procedural gaps in Haryana's legislation.
Background
Haryana enacted the Haryana Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act on September 10, 2021, to combat organised exam fraud. The Centre later passed the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, with stricter procedural safeguards.
Key facts
Of 17 FIRs registered under Haryana's 2021 anti-paper leak law till Dec 31, 2025, 12 reached chargesheet stage, 5 are under investigation.
Between 2014 and 2025, 29 FIRs were linked to three HSSC recruitment exams (male constables, gram sachivs, assistant linemen) and one CSIR-UGC NET leak case under central law.
Despite the 2021 Haryana law, investigators still rely heavily on IPC sections: 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120B.
Before the 2021 law (2014-Aug 2021), 13 FIRs were registered; 8 of 11 chargesheets were filed in trial courts.
Time taken to file chargesheets varied widely across cases.
Prelims pointers
- Haryana Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2021
- Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024
- Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC)
- CSIR-UGC NET
- IPC Sections: 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120B
Mains angles
- GS2: Government policies and interventions for transparency in public examinations
- GS3: Challenges in criminal justice system - delays in investigation and prosecution
- GS2: Federal issues - state vs central legislation on same subject