New Delhi, July 24: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Friday criticised the Centre’s proposal to establish fast-track courts for paper leak cases, arguing that quicker trials alone cannot ensure justice without effective investigations and strong evidence.
His remarks came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government would introduce a Bill in Parliament next week to strengthen legal action against examination paper leaks. The Prime Minister also said that directions had been issued to establish fast track courts to expedite the prosecution of those involved in such offences.
Responding to the announcement, Kejriwal described the proposal as an “empty promise,” claiming that the government’s investigative agencies had failed to effectively pursue major examination fraud cases.
In a video message, the former Delhi chief minister referred to developments in the NEET 2024 paper leak case, alleging that the investigation itself had exposed weaknesses in the government’s approach to tackling examination irregularities.
He questioned the effectiveness of setting up special courts if investigative agencies were unable to present sufficient evidence during trials. According to Kejriwal, speedy judicial proceedings would have limited impact unless investigations were conducted thoroughly and professionally from the outset.
The AAP leader also pointed to the functioning of existing fast-track courts dealing with sensitive offences, including cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and sexual assault matters. He argued that despite the availability of such courts, victims often continue to wait years for justice because investigations and prosecution remain prolonged.
Kejriwal maintained that the real challenge lies in strengthening the investigative process rather than merely creating additional judicial mechanisms. He asserted that unless agencies present credible evidence before courts, fast-track proceedings alone cannot guarantee timely convictions.
The criticism comes amid continuing political debate over recurring examination paper leak incidents that have sparked widespread concern among students, parents and education experts across the country.
Opposition parties have repeatedly accused the Centre of failing to safeguard the integrity of competitive examinations, while the government has maintained that it is committed to introducing stricter legal provisions to deter organised examination fraud.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party announced its support for protests being held at Jantar Mantar, where demonstrators have been demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities. Protesters have also sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding the ministry responsible for repeated instances of question paper leaks and alleged lapses in the examination system.
The Centre has defended its proposed legislation, stating that the upcoming law aims to impose tougher penalties on those involved in paper leaks and strengthen mechanisms to protect the credibility of recruitment and entrance examinations.
The issue is expected to remain a major point of political confrontation during the upcoming Parliament session, with both the government and the Opposition preparing to debate measures aimed at restoring public confidence in India’s examination system.