As India moves towards stricter laws and fast-track courts to curb examination malpractices following recent NEET controversies, Karnataka’s 2006 Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) postgraduate medical entrance examination paper leak case continues to await trial nearly two decades later.
The prolonged delay has reignited concerns over the effectiveness of the justice system in handling high-profile examination fraud cases, despite repeated calls for speedy investigations and time-bound trials.
Paper leak surfaced after unusual results
The RGUHS conducted its Postgraduate Entrance Test (PGET) on February 12, 2006. According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chargesheet, several candidates who had performed poorly in their MBBS qualifying examinations unexpectedly secured top ranks in the entrance test, triggering allegations of malpractice.
Student protests followed the announcement of the results, prompting the Karnataka government to appoint a three-member inquiry committee. The case was formally handed over to the CBI on April 25, 2006.
CBI named university officials and candidates
In 2008, the CBI filed a chargesheet against the then Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar and 16 candidates, accusing them of cheating and criminal breach of trust.
The then Vice-Chancellor sought discharge from the case in 2015, arguing that responsibility for printing and distributing question papers rested with the Registrar. However, both the CBI Special Court in 2020 and the Karnataka High Court in 2023 rejected the discharge pleas, allowing the prosecution to continue.
Despite these developments, the trial has yet to begin.
Delay raises questions over fast-track justice
Legal experts say merely designating a case as “fast-track” does not guarantee speedy justice.
Advocates familiar with the matter noted that the case was transferred to a fast-track court around 2015-16, but investigations and procedural delays have continued to stall progress. They emphasised that timely investigations, adequate judicial infrastructure and stronger institutional support are equally essential for delivering justice.
The delay comes at a time when the Centre has proposed stronger provisions under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, including fast-track trials, stricter penalties and technology-driven reforms to restore public confidence in India’s examination system.