The Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Tuesday passed a Bill that seeks to make offences pertaining to paper leak, organized cheating, and other unfair means in public examinations cognisable and non-bailable.
The Himachal Pradesh Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2025 h as now been sent to the Raj Bhavan for Gubernatorial assent.
Under the provisions of the Bill, anyone found guilty of cheating, abetting cheating, or leaking papers would face a minimum of three years and up to five years’ imprisonment along with a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh. Both punishment and fine can also be imposed simultaneously. Additionally, if the service provider or senior officials are found guilty of malpractice, the Bill provides for a penalty of up to Rs1 crore. The Bill mandates that all expenses incurred on such examination will be recovered from them, and they will be barred for four years from conducting any recruitment test. Directors or employees of such service providers could also face imprisonment between three and 10 years if found complicit.
The Bill, tabled Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu Monday, was passed by voice vote without any Opposition or discussion.
Tabling the Bill, Sukhu said, “Malpractices in public examinations often result in delays or cancellations, thereby jeopardising the prospects of millions of young candidates. At present, there is no specific substantive law to comprehensively address the use of unfair means or offences committed by individuals, groups, or institutions involved in the conduct of public examinations by the state government and its agencies. It is, therefore, essential to identify such exploitative practices and address them effectively through a comprehensive State legislation”.
“The objective of the Bill is to ensure greater transparency, fairness, and credibility in the public examination system, and to reassure the youth that their genuine efforts will be duly recognised and their future is safe. The Bill seeks to provide a strong legal framework to deter individuals, organised groups, and institutions from indulging in unfair practices that undermine the integrity of public examinations for monetary or other wrongful gains.,” he added.
Under the provisions of the Bill, individuals caught cheating, abettimg, or leaking question papers will face imprisonment of three to five years and a fine up to Rs 10 lakh. In cases involving service providers, the punishment is severe.
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“Where it is established during the investigation that offence under this Act has been committed with the consent or connivance of any Director, Senior Management or the persons in-charge of the service provider firm, he shall be liable for imprisonment for a term not less than three years but which may extend to 10 years and with fine of Rs 1 Crore. In case of default of payment offline, an additional punishment of imprisonment shall be imposed as per the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023,” as per the Bill.
To ensure robust enforcement, the Bill authorizes only officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) or above to investigate such cases. The state government will also have the power to transfer probes to specialized investigating agencies.
The legislation comes in the wake of multiple paper leak scandals in the state, notably the police recruitment exam scam that resulted in the suspension of the Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission in December 2022 and its dissolution in February 2023.
CM Sukhu said the law aims to “restore transparency, accountability, and public trust in recruitment processes while protecting the future of lakhs of aspirants.”
Two other bills were also passed:
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The Assembly also passed two other Bills — Bill on Levying Tax on Transport of Certain Goods on Roads, and The Registration (Himachal Pradesh Amendment) Bill 2025. The bill on Levying Tax on Transport of Certain Goods on Roads includes provisions for recovery of outstanding taxes. The Registration (Himachal Pradesh Amendment) Bill 2025 was passed describing that it has become necessary to provide comprehensive legal amendments for seeking online and paperless registration without requiring physical presence.
Saurabh Parashar is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, primarily responsible for the publication’s coverage of Himachal Pradesh. He is a seasoned journalist with over 17 years of experience in print media, specializing in crime, legal affairs, and investigative reporting.
Professional Background
Education: He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication from Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology (Hisar) and a Law degree from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla. This legal background significantly informs his reporting on complex judicial and administrative matters.
Career Path: Before joining The Indian Express in 2017, he spent 12 years with The Times of India.
Core Beats: His primary focus is the socio-political landscape of the hill state, with a specific emphasis on the environment, forest conservation, drug menace (specifically "Chitta"), affairs related to tribal and archaeology and the unique challenges of governance in high-altitude regions.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His recent reporting highlights the critical intersection of policy, law, and social safety in Himachal Pradesh:
1. "Himachal’s battle against Chitta: Why the border areas are most vulnerable" (Late 2025): An investigative look at the transit routes from Punjab and the impact on local youth.
2. "Shimla ropeway clears key hurdle as 820 trees face the axe :According to the Forest Survey of India’s 2021 assessment, 47.21 percent of Shimla’s 5,131 sq km geographical area is under forest cover (Nov 17, 2025).
3. "Himachal to handover 2.7427 ha of non-forest land for Shimla Ropeway: Given the land’s non-forest nature, RTDC and the state will not require permission from MoEFCC" (Nov 18, 2025)
4. "How the centuries-old Jodidara tradition is fading in Himachal’s Trans-Giri region: Jodidara: a form of fraternal polyandry—has long been part of Hatti tribal culture in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and adjoining Uttarakhand. It is believed to have evolved to prevent division of ancestral land and maintain unity among brothers in the harsh, mountainous terrain" (Aug 18, 2025)
Legal & Agricultural Affairs
"Kisan Sabha hails SC’s setting aside Himachal HC order to remove orchards from forest land" (Dec 18, 2025): Covering a major Supreme Court victory for farmers, where a High Court order to remove fruit-bearing apple orchards was overturned.
"Himachal Cabinet nod to new tourism policy; focus on home-stays in tribal areas" (Dec 11, 2025): Detailing the legislative push to decentralize tourism and bring economic benefits to Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.
3. Governance & Environment
"Forest rights and development: Why Himachal is seeking more leeway from Centre" (Dec 19, 2025): Reporting on the legal hurdles faced by the state in infrastructure projects due to the Forest Conservation Act.
"Cloudbursts and resilience: How Himachal’s remote villages are building back better" (Nov 2025): Following up on the long-term rehabilitation efforts after monsoon-related disasters.
Crime especially cyber crimes, crypto currency etc:
crypto currency: "Agents in uniform, motivational speeches, lavish parties: How a Himachal crypto con went unnoticed:A serial conman, a ‘Nelson Mandela Nobel Peace Award winner', and retired policemen got together to pull off a Rs 1,740-crore fraud" (Nov 10, 2023)
Signature Beats
Saurabh is recognized for his tenacious reporting on the state's drug epidemic. His deep familiarity with the topography and tribal culture of Himachal allows him to report from remote locations like Spiti, Pangi, Shillai, which are often overlooked by national media. His legal expertise makes him a primary choice for covering the Himachal Pradesh High Court on issues ranging from local body elections to environmental PILs.
X (Twitter): @saurabh_prashar
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