Calcutta High Court Establishes Five Fast-Track Tribunals for NEET Fraud Trials
Specific courts in West Bengal and Port Blair will now oversee criminal proceedings related to the NEET exam leak scandal. The judiciary aims to resolve these high-stakes organized crime cases within a strict three-month timeframe.
Key takeaways
- Five fast-track courts have been established in Kolkata and Port Blair to exclusively handle NEET paper leak prosecutions.
- Judges are directed to reach a final verdict within 90 days of the charge-sheet filing under the Public Examinations Act, 2024.
- The Special CBI Court No. 2 in Kolkata is designated specifically for cases investigated by central federal agencies.
- The legal shift follows the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and new federal policies treating leaks as organized crime.
Judiciary Mandates Accelerated Timelines for Exam Fraud
The Calcutta High Court has formalized an administrative order to streamline the prosecution of individuals involved in the NEET paper leak scandal. By designating five specific fast-track courts, the judiciary aims to deliver final judgments within three months of a charge-sheet being filed. This institutional shift follows the enactment of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which reclassified exam tampering as a serious organized offense.
Jurisdictional Breakdown and Court Designations
The new legal architecture divides responsibilities between state and federal investigations across two geographical regions. In Kolkata, three distinct benches will manage the caseload:
- Bench-I, City Sessions Court: Tasked with West Bengal state agency investigations under Sections 10 and 11 of the 2024 Act.
- Special CBI Court No. 2: Reserved for adjudicating cases brought forward by central investigative agencies.
- Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, 1st Court: Responsible for inquiries, judicial cognisance, and trial commitment for state-level probes.
The jurisdiction also extends to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Court of the Additional District & Sessions Judge and the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Port Blair will preside over cases emerging from that territory.
Addressing Organized Academic Crime
The rollout follows intense political and social pressure, including the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and public directives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Investigators argue that the NEET controversy is not a matter of isolated cheating but involves sophisticated networks of middlemen and digital facilitators. By bypassing standard trial delays, these dedicated courts intend to process voluminous forensic evidence and complex conspiracy charges more efficiently than the general legal system allows. The High Court clarified that while these benches are prioritized, the presiding officers maintain their original cadre rank, distinguishing them from the 88 permanent fast-track courts already operating in West Bengal.
Source: The Hindu — National
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