The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought responses from the Centre and state governments on a PIL seeking directions to confiscate the movable and immovable properties of people involved in examination question paper leaks, along with those of their family members.
A bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe issued notices to the Union government and the states on the petition filed by advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.
The court has fixed September 25 for the next hearing.
Plea seeks action against offenders’ assets
The petition, filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey, seeks directions for a complete assessment of the properties of those allegedly involved in paper leaks and their family members.
It also asks authorities to invoke relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Benami Property Act and Black Money Act, wherever applicable.
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The plea further seeks a direction that sentences imposed in paper leak cases be served consecutively rather than concurrently.
"Direct and declare that sentence in paper leak shall be consecutive, not concurrent, in order to prevent such incidents in future. Alternatively, direct the Law Commission to examine international practices and prepare a report on paper leak within three months," the plea said.
Petitioner drops plea for time-bound trials
During Tuesday's hearing, Upadhyay told the court that he was no longer pressing his request for directions to ensure time-bound investigations and trials in paper leak cases.
The submission came after the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, which strengthens laws dealing with examination malpractice and paper leaks, was passed.
The petition had earlier argued that the existing legal framework did not adequately address delays in investigations and trials.
PIL highlights impact on students
The plea said repeated failures to prevent, investigate and prosecute paper leak cases have affected students' fundamental rights under Articles 14, 16, 19 and 21 of the Constitution.
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It also referred to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and alleged that the law had several gaps, including the absence of provisions for time-bound investigations and trials.
According to the petition, paper leaks have caused mental and physical trauma to students and their families, while also leading to lost educational and employment opportunities and increased financial pressure from unpaid loans.
It further highlighted the rise in student suicides linked to the consequences of examination disruptions.