Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government, in coordination with the High Court, has established four special fast-track courts to expedite the hearing of cases involving paper leaks, cheating and other examination-related offences in competitive and board examinations.
The move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement and directions from Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav to establish fast-track courts. According to the state government, Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the country to establish such courts specifically for these cases.
The courts will function in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur, with defined territorial jurisdictions covering districts across different regions of the state.
Three-Month Trial Target for Examination-Related Cases
The fast-track courts have been given a target of completing trials within three months of the filing of a chargesheet.
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Special public prosecutors have been appointed to handle cases before these courts. Their responsibilities include presenting evidence effectively, managing witnesses and conducting legal proceedings to support the timely hearing of cases.
The state government has also provided for the formation of Special Investigation Teams (SITs) under the leadership of the Superintendent of Police concerned to investigate cases involving examination-related offences.
Bhopal Court to Cover Eight Districts
The special fast-track court in Bhopal will hear cases from the following districts:
- Bhopal
- Sehore
- Raisen
- Betul
- Narmadapuram
- Harda
- Rajgarh
- Vidisha
The court’s jurisdiction will cover examination-related cases arising in these districts.
Indore Court to Handle Cases Across the Malwa-Nimar Region
The fast-track court in Indore will handle cases from Indore and surrounding districts in the Malwa-Nimar region.
Its jurisdiction includes:
- Indore
- Dhar
- Ratlam
- Jhabua
- Mandsaur
- Ujjain
- Dewas
The court will hear cases involving examination malpractice and paper leaks within its designated jurisdiction.
Gwalior Court to Cover Eight Districts
The Gwalior fast-track court will hear cases originating in the following districts:
- Gwalior
- Bhind
- Morena
- Shivpuri
- Guna
- Datia
- Ashoknagar
- Tikamgarh
The court will handle examination-related offences reported within these districts.
Jabalpur Court to Handle Cases Across Mahakoshal and Bundelkhand
The special fast-track court in Jabalpur will cover Jabalpur, Sagar, Rewa, Satna, Chhindwara and Shahdol, along with other districts in the Mahakoshal and Bundelkhand regions, as specified by the state government.
The arrangement is intended to provide a designated judicial forum for the speedy hearing of examination-related cases across these areas.
Special Public Prosecutors Appointed
The state government has appointed special public prosecutors to conduct proceedings before the four fast-track courts.
Their work will focus on presenting evidence, ensuring appropriate witness management and handling prosecution-related procedures. The government aims to facilitate more organised hearings and faster judicial proceedings in cases involving paper leaks, cheating and other examination offences.
The courts will deal with cases in accordance with the applicable legal procedures.
Focus on Protecting the Integrity of Examinations
The state government has described the initiative as a step towards protecting candidates who prepare for examinations through hard work and merit and maintaining confidence in the examination system.
Through specialised investigation teams, dedicated prosecution arrangements and a three-month trial target following the filing of chargesheets, the state aims to accelerate the legal process in examination-related cases.
The initiative covers competitive examinations and board examinations, with cases distributed among the four courts according to their designated territorial jurisdictions.
