Himachal Cracks Down on Exam Scams: New Law Promises Fairness and Accountability for Aspirants
In a bold move to restore trust in public recruitment exams, the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2025—a landmark legislation aimed at ending paper leaks, organized cheating, and exam-related corruption.
Introduced by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the Bill was passed without opposition, reflecting a shared commitment to protect the future of lakhs of job aspirants across the state.
Under the new law:
- Cheating, paper leaks, and abetment are now cognizable and non-bailable offences.
- Guilty individuals face 3 to 5 years in prison and fines up to ₹10 lakh.
- Service providers found complicit could be fined up to ₹1 crore, barred from conducting exams for four years, and have to repay all exam-related costs.
- Their directors or employees may face 3 to 10 years of imprisonment if involved.
To ensure thorough investigations, only officers of the rank of DSP and above will be authorized to handle such cases. The state also reserves the right to hand over complex cases to specialized agencies.
This legislation comes in response to a series of scandals, including the police recruitment exam scam that led to the suspension and eventual dissolution of the Himachal Pradesh Staff Selection Commission in early 2023.
The Sukhu government says the Bill is more than just a legal reform—it’s a promise to every aspirant that their hard work will not be undermined by unfair practices. It’s a step toward clean, transparent, and accountable recruitment in Himachal Pradesh.
