The Delhi High Court has directed that all pending cases involving examination paper leaks and cheating under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, be transferred to the specially designated fast-track court at Rouse Avenue. The move is intended to enable quicker adjudication of cases registered under the law and resolve a jurisdictional issue that had delayed the transfer of some cases from other district courts.
In a notification issued on Tuesday, Registrar (Vigilance) Kaweri Baweja said the Chief Justice had directed that all miscellaneous proceedings, inquiries and trials pending before courts across Delhi involving provisions of the 2024 Act be withdrawn and transferred to the Rouse Avenue fast-track court with immediate effect. The notification also clarified that fresh FIRs registered under the Act and proceedings arising from them would be handled by the designated court.
The decision follows the insertion of Section 12A into the 2024 law this year. The provision requires investigations into offences under the Act to be completed within two months from the date the information is recorded. The introduction of the time-bound investigation requirement has increased the need for a dedicated judicial mechanism capable of dealing with such cases without prolonged procedural delays.
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The order effectively brings cases registered under the Act since 2024 under the jurisdiction of the Rouse Avenue court, including those currently pending before different district courts. Earlier, the designated court faced uncertainty over whether it could directly take up cases pending elsewhere without a formal transfer or assignment order from the High Court.
The jurisdictional issue was highlighted by Special Judge Ajay Gupta while hearing a case last week. The court questioned whether the specially designated court could entertain matters pending before other district courts in the absence of a specific transfer order. The notification establishing the special court had provided for the withdrawal and assignment of cases pending at the Rouse Avenue complex but had not clearly addressed matters pending in other parts of Delhi.
The latest High Court notification now provides the formal mechanism required to transfer those cases and allows the designated court to handle proceedings under the 2024 Act across Delhi. The move is expected to streamline the prosecution of examination paper leak and cheating cases while supporting the statutory requirement for time-bound investigations. Fresh cases under the law will also be dealt with by the same designated fast-track court.
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