NEET paper leak: Calcutta HC creates five fast-track courts for time-bound trials
The Calcutta High Court has ordered the establishment of five dedicated fast-track courts to exclusively handle cases related to the NEET paper leak, a move aimed at expediting criminal proceedings in one of India's most significant education scandals. Three of these courts will function in Kolkata, while two will be located in Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
According to an administrative order issued by the Registrar of the Calcutta High Court on July 29, the designated courts are expected to conclude trials and deliver final judgments preferably within three months from the date of filing of the charge-sheet. The cases will be prosecuted under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which was enacted to tackle malpractices in public examinations.
The order names Bench-I of the City Sessions Court, Calcutta, as the designated court for cases investigated by state agencies in West Bengal. For cases probed by central agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Special CBI Court No. 2 in the City Sessions Court, Calcutta, will have jurisdiction. Additionally, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, 1st Court, Calcutta, has been assigned to handle matters related to investigation, judicial inquiry, cognizance, trial, and adjudication of cases investigated by state agencies, including commitment proceedings under Sections 10 and 11 of the Act.
In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which fall under the Calcutta High Court's jurisdiction, the court of the Additional District & Sessions Judge, Port Blair, and the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Port Blair, will conduct fast-track trials for exam malpractice cases.
The order also clarifies that these designated fast-track courts are distinct from the 88 permanent fast-track courts already functioning in West Bengal. It states that judicial officers presiding over the designated courts will not be upgraded or downgraded from their original positions in the cadre they belong to.
The development comes amid nationwide student protests over the NEET paper leak controversy, which led to the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister. The Centre has since moved to treat paper leaks as organised criminal offences that undermine the integrity of competitive examinations affecting millions of students. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced last week that fast-track courts would be established to try exam malpractice cases.
The dedicated courts are expected to handle cases investigated by agencies such as the CBI and state police in connection with paper leaks of public examinations. The move aims to reduce delays that typically accompany complex conspiracy and organised crime prosecutions involving multiple accused, voluminous documentary evidence, and digital forensic material.
Observers note that the NEET controversy has evolved beyond allegations of isolated malpractice into a broader debate on the credibility of India's public examination system. Investigators have alleged the involvement of organised networks, middlemen, and facilitators in procuring and distributing confidential examination material, prompting demands for stronger legal and institutional safeguards.
By establishing these fast-track courts, the Calcutta High Court has taken a significant step towards ensuring accountability and restoring public confidence in the fairness of competitive examinations. Time-bound adjudication is expected to provide justice to the millions of students who appear for these high-stakes tests each year.
