New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, by voice vote, following a stormy debate marked by repeated disruptions over Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had authorised the use of force against students during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
The Bill, which now awaits passage in the Rajya Sabha, comes weeks after nationwide anti-paper leak protests. It seeks to set up fast-track courts in every state dedicated exclusively to trying paper leak cases and mandates that investigations be completed within two months.
The legislation also significantly stiffens punishment for offenders, prescribing imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to ₹50 lakh for individuals found guilty of leaking examination papers. Organised paper leak syndicates could face penalties of up to ₹10 crore.
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Participating in the debate on the Anti-Paper Leak Bill, Gandhi alleged that Shah, who was absent from the House at the time, bore responsibility for the police action against the protesting students. “The Home Minister ordered the shooting of our students. He put pellets into the blood of our students. He ordered the students of India to be shot,” Gandhi said, referring to the police action during the CJP-led agitation. He further claimed that “the use of force can only be authorised by the Minister or the Prime Minister.”
The remarks triggered immediate protests from the Treasury benches, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju demanding that Gandhi substantiate the allegation. BJP and NDA MPs accused the Congress leader of levelling baseless charges against the Home Minister, leading to sloganeering and brief disruptions. They also demanded an apology, while Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla reminded Gandhi that allegations made in the House must be backed by evidence.
Replying to the debate, Union Minister Jitendra Singh rejected Gandhi’s allegations as “factually incorrect,” asserting that no bullets were fired and no order to open fire had been issued during the protest. Singh clarified that police had used only tear gas during the operation and said an order to open fire can only be issued by a magistrate, not by the police. He also dismissed Gandhi’s claim that Amit Shah had travelled with a convoy of 30 vehicles, calling the allegation untrue.