Parliament Remains disrupted on Day 6 as Anti-Paper Leak Bill Faces Opposition Protest

New Delhi: Both Houses of Parliament witnessed continued disruptions on Monday, the sixth day of the Monsoon Session, as the government sought to introduce and discuss the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. The legislation, aimed at strengthening measures against exam paper leaks and malpractices, could not be debated amid sustained Opposition protests linked to the NEET controversy and alleged police action against student demonstrators.

Union Minister of State for Personnel Dr Jitendra Singh introduced the Bill in the Lok Sabha. It proposes tougher penalties, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines reaching ₹10 crore for organised malpractice, along with provisions for fast-track courts to deliver judgments within three months. The move follows recent student protests over exam irregularities and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a task force led by Nandan Nilekani to overhaul the examination system.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly criticised the Opposition, particularly the Congress and its allies, for blocking discussion. “All the members have come prepared, and several members from the Opposition have also submitted amendments; they, too, are well-prepared. This is an important Bill, one that is vital for the lives of children, youth, and students… Yet, the Congress party and some of its allies are deliberately preventing a discussion on such an important Bill,” Rijiju said. He urged Congress colleagues not to further damage their party’s image and to participate constructively for the sake of students.

Opposition leaders maintained that the larger issues of accountability and alleged excesses against protesters must be addressed first. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stated: “The issue is much bigger than the sixth day. NEET students lost their lives. They were given assurances, but now cases are being filed against students. Even those posting on social media are seeing the police reach their homes.” Congress MP KC Venugopal demanded the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah, asking: “Where is Amit Shah hiding? He is not coming to Parliament at all. He should explain who ordered to use AK-47 in Bihar and pellet guns in Delhi during student protest. Are they terrorists?”

Speaker Om Birla repeatedly adjourned the proceedings amid sloganeering. The government has indicated it is prepared to pass the Bill even without extensive debate if the Opposition continues to obstruct proceedings, emphasising the urgency of protecting the integrity of public examinations.

The standoff reflects deeper political tensions over education reforms, student safety, and the handling of recent protests. While the ruling side stresses the need for a robust legal framework to prevent future leaks, the Opposition insists that justice for affected students and transparency on police actions remain unresolved priorities. Further attempts at discussion are expected in the coming days.