The Delhi High Court has designated Judge Anu Grover Baliga as the Special Judge to exclusively hear and conduct the expeditious trial of criminal cases arising from question paper leaks and the use of unfair means in public examinations.
In a notification issued on Thursday evening, the High Court appointed judge Baliga as Special Judge (PC Act) (CBI)-25 (Specially Designated Fast Track Court) with immediate effect. She was earlier serving as the Judge-in-Charge of the Mediation Centre, Central District, Tis Hazari Courts.
The specially designated fast-track court will function from the Rouse Avenue Court Complex and will have exclusive jurisdiction to try offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, along with connected offences under other applicable criminal laws.
The notification further provides that all pending cases registered under the 2024 Act and related offences shall be transferred to the newly designated court. The court will function under the administrative control of the Principal District and Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (PC Act) (CBI), Rouse Avenue Courts.
The designation comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Centre would establish fast-track courts to ensure the expeditious trial and stringent punishment of persons involved in examination paper leaks and other organised examination malpractices.
The announcement forms part of the government’s measures to strengthen enforcement under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which was enacted to curb organised cheating, question paper leaks, impersonation and other fraudulent practices affecting public recruitment and competitive examinations.
The development assumes significance amid nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, particularly the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. In the national capital, students along with members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) have been holding demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, demanding greater accountability in the examination system, comprehensive reforms to safeguard the integrity of public examinations, and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The creation of a dedicated fast-track court is expected to facilitate the time-bound adjudication of prosecution proceedings arising out of examination-related offences.
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