Bombay High Court picks 2 judges from Aurangabad and Nagpur for paper leak cases in fast-track court

The Bombay High Court has designated two special courts in Aurangabad and Nagpur to try offences relating to examination malpractices, a day after the Central government announced the setting up of fast-track courts for such cases, including those linked to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge has designated Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate SV Pawar at Aurangabad and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Gulshan Kolte at Nagpur to hear the cases.

"In view of the directions from the Union Law Ministry, the courts are designated to try the offences under Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act", sources within high court administration told Bar and Bench.

Under the 2024 Act, trials in such cases are required to be completed within 3 months.

The development comes in the backdrop of the Centre’s decision to establish special fast-track courts to deal with paper leak cases, following widespread protests by student groups across the country, including demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.

The Delhi High Court also designated Judge Anu Grover Baliga as a special judge to deal with criminal cases arising out of paper leaks and the use of unfair means in public examinations.