New Delhi, Aug 2: Around 158 cases related to recruitment and examination irregularities remain pending for trial in courts across the country despite the completion of investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), with some cases dating back more than two decades.
According to official sources, the CBI has decided to approach all High Courts seeking the transfer of these pending cases to the Special Fast-Track Courts being established under the newly enacted Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026.
The agency is also expected to assure the High Courts that it will appoint dedicated special public prosecutors and deploy all necessary resources to ensure the speedy conclusion of these trials.
In Delhi, around 25 cases registered since 2000 are still awaiting trial despite the completion of investigations. These include alleged irregularities in the AIIMS PG recruitment examination (2010-11), Delhi University Medical and Dental Entrance Examination (2011), Common Admission Test (CAT) irregularities (2004), Staff Selection Commission (SSC) recruitment (2013), and teachers’ recruitment examinations.
In Bihar, five cases remain pending, including three linked to the alleged NEET-2024 paper leak, along with PMT examination irregularities reported in 2003 and 2011.
Jammu and Kashmir has three pending cases, involving alleged irregularities in junior engineer and constable recruitment, while Himachal Pradesh has three pending cases, including the 2022 constable recruitment examination.
Other states with pending trials include Jharkhand (5), Karnataka (5), Maharashtra (3)—including two related to NEET-2024—Rajasthan (8), Tamil Nadu (14), and Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal with 10 cases each.
Government officials have expressed concern that prolonged delays in commencing trials weaken the chances of successful prosecution. Over time, witnesses become unavailable or elderly, memories fade, identification of accused persons becomes more difficult, and testimonies may change. Frequent transfers of investigating officers, prosecutors, and judges also contribute to delays, increasing the risk of cases collapsing.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026, mandates every State and Union Territory to designate a Special Fast-Track Court, in consultation with the respective High Court, to exclusively hear examination-related offences.
The law requires these courts to conduct day-to-day hearings, complete trials within three months of filing the charge sheet, and transfer already pending examination fraud cases from regular courts to the designated fast-track courts for disposal within three months.
The legislation also provides for the appointment of special public prosecutors dedicated to these cases. Where an accused faces additional charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) or any other law, the Special Fast-Track Court will hear all connected offences together in a single trial to avoid multiple proceedings.
