A day after the State Government tabled the Assam Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, academicians hailed the move but they called for societal change as well along with stringent penal action.
Welcoming the action and calling for rectifying the system, KC Das Commerce College’s retired principal Professor Ghanashyam Nath, Handique Girls’ College Political Science Assistant Professor Pallavi Deka and Dibrugarh University Political Science Assistant Professor Kaustubh Deka collectively pointed out that it will lead to surge in corruption owing to unreasonable fine amount.
They all held the society responsible for such malpractices as they are in favour of rising quickly on the ladder of success and are “blind” about it.
Professor Pallavi pointed out about rise in “the number of cash-for-job scams in the last few years” and that it left aside “the cash component involved in such scams” highlighting Assam has not witnessed grave situation like some other States.
Professor Kaustubh Deka commending the Bill as “a game changer” propagated it will be “effective in the long run as it targets to dismantle the entire ecosystem of such crimes”.
Punishments Proposed In The Bill
- Jail up to 10 years and maximum fine of Rs 10 crore on person guilty of helping the candidates through malpractices like attempt to leak, sell, print or solve question papers
- Imprisonment of a minimum of five years, extendable up to 10 years, and fine of at least Rs 10 lakh to Rs 10 crore
- Imprisonment of two years for the person found guilty of default in payment of fine amount
- Imprisonment of three years and fine of minimum Rs 1 lakh for examinee found guilty of using unfair means
- Another nine months of jail for the examinee found guilty of default in payment
- Convicted person will debarred of any public examination for a period of two years
- Recovery order of the court on any wrongful gains made by such person, by way of attachment and sale of any of the assets or property movable or immovable, or both, of such person
- Make all offences as cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable, and authorise an officer of Deputy Superintendent of Police rank or above to probe the crimes.
- No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall be applicable against any public servant acting under the direction of the Assam Government for anything done or planning to do in “good faith”
- The government in consultation with the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court will institute special courts to be headed by not below Additional District and Sessions Judge, to try offences under this Act
