LIVE: LS discusses anti-paper leak Bill; CJP warns of fresh protest

CPI MP moves RS notice on NEET protest inquiry

CPI Rajya Sabha MP P Sandosh Kumar on Tuesday moved a Suspension of Business Notice under Rule 267, pressing for an immediate discussion on setting up an independent judicial commission to look into the alleged police action against students protesting NEET examination irregularities.

In the notice, Kumar requested the Chair to suspend the scheduled business, including Zero Hour and Question Hour, so the House could take up the demand for an inquiry headed by a sitting or retired Supreme Court judge.

The proposed commission, according to the notice, should investigate "the brutal police action against the students who protested against the NEET exam irregularities and the circumstances leading to the nationwide student agitation, including allegations relating to examination paper leaks and other irregularities."

Describing the issue as "definite, urgent and of great public importance," Kumar said it concerns "the future of millions of students, the credibility of India's public examination system, public confidence in national institutions, and the protection of constitutional rights."

Both Houses adjourned till 2 pm amid disruptions

Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were halted on Tuesday, with the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha adjourned until 2 pm.

Before adjourning the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla appealed to members to allow the House to function and take part in discussions.

"Let the House function; let there be discussion and dialogue, and let everyone's views be expressed. Let a positive message go out to the entire country that discussion and dialogue take place in Parliament..."

Sanjay Raut questions anti-paper leak amendment bill, calls it 'the same old bill'

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut expressed scepticism over the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, saying that while the proposed legislation increases the jail term and fine, it is otherwise "the same old bill."

“Now, a new bill has been introduced. Modi ji seems to think he has achieved a monumental feat. It is the same old bill. All that has changed is that the prison term has been increased from one year to ten years, and the fine raised from ₹1 crore to ₹10 crore. The biggest paper leak racket is operating within the Bharatiya Janata Party. The individuals arrested in Maharashtra in connection with the NEET paper leak are all affiliated with the BJP,” Raut said.

Kejriwal hits out at BJP over 'use of AK-47' on student protesters in Bihar

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday criticised the BJP over allegations that an AK-47 rifle was used to fire at a students' protest in Siwan district of Bihar and said students should not be treated like terrorists.

A video purportedly showing a police constable using an AK-47 rifle during the student protest against alleged examination irregularities in Siwan on July 25 went viral on social media. The constable was suspended on Monday.

In a post on X, Kejriwal said, "What has gotten into the BJP? An AK-47 was used to fire at the students of Bihar. Are these students terrorists?" "I would like to remind Emperor Modi that this slogan was raised on the land of Bihar under the leadership of Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan -- 'Vacate the throne, for the people are coming'.

"Please do not mess with the students," the former Delhi chief minister said.

Draft anti-paper leak Bill seeks 3-month trial completion

The proposed anti-paper leak legislation introduces sweeping changes to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. The amendments follow assurances made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after nationwide student protests over repeated examination paper leaks.

Among the key provisions are a three-month deadline to complete trials after the charge sheet is filed, the creation of a special task force, a fixed timeline for investigations, and day-to-day court hearings during the trial, reported the Hindustan Times.

Under the draft law, any person found using “unfair means and offences” will face imprisonment for a term not less than “five years but which may extend up to10 years and with a fine up to Rs 50 lakh”.

Service providers found guilty can also be fined Rs 5 crore. The proportionate cost of conducting the examination will also be recovered from them.

In addition, they will be barred from undertaking any responsibility related to public examinations for a period of eight years.

NDA's 'Mangal Milan' meeting begins at Parliament

The NDA Parliamentary Party's 'Mangal Milan' gathering got underway at Parliament on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the meeting along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other senior leaders of the alliance.

Congress to seek answers on paper leaks, use of force against protesters

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said the Opposition would finalise its strategy for both Houses at a meeting before Parliament convened. He said the government would be held accountable over the alleged paper leaks and the use of force against protesters, including lathis, pellet guns and AK-47s, and demanded answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Assam govt to withdraw cases lodged against protesters over NEET paper leak

The Assam government has decided to withdraw police cases registered against those involved in protests over the NEET question paper leak and to release those arrested or detained during such demonstrations, an official notification said.

Altogether five cases had been registered in the state in connection with the protests led by students and the youth, resulting in the arrest of 13 people. An official notification issued late on Monday said those arrested or detained will be released promptly, and no adverse legal action will be initiated against any person involved in the protests.

The notification, signed by the Home and Political Department's Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Tewari, said the decision was taken “after careful consideration of all aspects of the circumstances and the consequent need to strengthen accountability and undertake systemic reforms across the examination and higher education ecosystem”.

It said that the process for withdrawing the registered cases, irrespective of the stage of proceedings within the state, will be initiated promptly as per law. About arrests or detentions already made, the process for reviewing such cases and releasing the persons concerned will be initiated expeditiously, it said. No adverse legal action will be initiated by any of the police authorities within the state against those persons who have been involved in these protests.

Delhi HC to hear plea alleging police surveillance of CJP protesters

The Delhi High Court will hear on Tuesday a petition alleging that protesters participating in the student agitation led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) were subjected to police surveillance.

During the hearing on Monday, the court observed that “Things have cooled down, let them cool down further,” and suggested that a comprehensive petition seeking guidelines on police surveillance practices be filed instead.

A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia said such a petition would allow the court to examine the existing legal framework governing police surveillance and determine whether the current provisions are adequate or require further scrutiny.  The bench also pointed out that the present petition was limited to a specific aspect of the issue.

“Better file a petition where we can examine what provisions are there in place. If they are adequate, not adequate. This petition as we understand was confined to a particular aspect. Things have cooled down, let them cool down further,” the bench said.

The court made these remarks in a petition filed by former JNU Students’ Union president Aishe Ghose challenging the alleged continuous surveillance of protesters.

'BJP's felicitation of Pradhan celebrates students' ruined future': Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party for giving former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan a grand welcome in Parliament, saying he would always remain a "symbol of corruption" and of "India's ruined education system."

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha alleged that the BJP's felicitation of Pradhan amounted to celebrating the destruction of the future of lakhs of students. "Dharmendra Pradhan is, and will always remain, the symbol of corruption and India's ruined education system. It is that very system that took the lives of 26 children and forced lakhs of youth onto the streets. His resignation did not come out of morality - it was forced out of fear of the youth's rage. And today, the BJP is garlanding that same person inside Parliament. This is not an honour--it is a celebration of ruining the futures of lakhs of children. Every student in the country is watching this. And they will remember every face involved in this," he wrote in a post on X.