Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly today passed the Arunachal Pradesh Public Examination (Measures to Prevent Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2024 unanimously. The bill was brought in order to curb the irregularities and use of unfair means in public examinations in the state.

The Bill, 2024, has strict penal provisions. Any person convicted of an offence under the new law will be punished with imprisonment up to not less than three years and with a fine of up to one crore rupees.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu said that the bill was prepared after studying the national law on the prevention of unfair means in examinations. He said that among other penalties, the state bill has the provision of debarring convicted candidates for a lifetime from appearing in any recruitment examinations in the state. He said it also has the provision of a Special Court for speedy trial of such offences and setting up of a Grievance and Redressal Cell.

The state assembly also passed the Arunachal Pradesh Amending Bill 2024 today. State’s Minister of Law, Legislative and Justice, Kento Jini told the house that the amendment was necessitated due to the enactment of three New Criminal Laws by the Central government. The three new criminal laws, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam have replaced the Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), and the Indian Evidence Act respectively. Forty-nine local laws of Arunachal Pradesh have been amended through The Arunachal Pradesh Amending Act, 2024.