PM Modi Announces Fast-Track Courts for Paper Leak Cases, but Parliament Deadlock and Student Protest Continue

New Delhi/ Bhopal July 23, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced the setting up of fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials and strict punishment in examination paper leak cases. The move is aimed at protecting students and restoring confidence in the competitive examination system amid continuing protests and a political deadlock in Parliament.

In his first direct public intervention in the matter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said nothing was more important than the welfare and future of the country’s youth. He warned that those attempting to damage students’ careers would not be spared. The announcement indicates that the Centre now plans to put a time-bound judicial mechanism in place alongside administrative and criminal investigations into examination irregularities.

According the reports the Prime Minister had earlier asked BJP and National Democratic Alliance MPs to reach out to students and understand their concerns. He also stressed the need for a foolproof examination system and strong action against those involved in paper leaks. BJP leaders backed the fast-track court proposal and challenged the Opposition to participate in a structured parliamentary debate instead of continuing to disrupt proceedings.

The government has said it is ready to discuss the examination controversy in Parliament. It has maintained that such a debate must take place under an agreed format, with the subject and duration clearly defined. However, Opposition parties have continued to press for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a statement by the Prime Minister inside Parliament.

The differences have led to repeated adjournments in both Houses during the Monsoon Session. The Rajya Sabha remained largely non-functional for a third consecutive day as Opposition members demanded that all other listed business be suspended for an immediate discussion on the paper leak issue and the police action against protesters.

The government’s announcement has also failed to persuade the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, which has been leading the continuing student agitation. The organisation said fast-track courts may punish offenders after a leak takes place but would not by themselves prevent further irregularities. It repeated its demand for Pradhan’s resignation and broader reforms in the examination system.

The protest, which began over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and other competitive tests, has continued for nearly four weeks. Its demands include ministerial accountability, structural examination reforms and support for families affected by student deaths. The movement has also drawn support from Opposition leaders, activists and sections of civil society.

The agitation has now entered a more sensitive phase following incidents of stone-pelting and clashes around the protest site. Delhi Police registered cases after officers were injured during violence near Jantar Mantar. Police investigators are examining CCTV recordings, mobile data and messages circulated through WhatsApp groups to establish whether the disorder was planned and who was responsible.

Police sources have claimed that some recovered messages contained instructions about items participants should carry and arrangements to be followed in the event of detention. These claims remain part of an ongoing investigation and have not yet resulted in a final judicial finding.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, however, has reportedly alleged that outsiders and unidentified “goons” entered the gathering to derail what he described as a peaceful student movement. He has accused political opponents of attempting to discredit the agitation. The allegation has been denied politically and remains unproven.

However, the present confrontation is no longer limited to criminal punishment. Students are seeking assurances that future examinations will be secure, transparent and free from organised malpractice. The Opposition is demanding political accountability. The government, meanwhile, is presenting the proposed courts, stronger investigations and parliamentary discussion as evidence that it is willing to act.

The next step will depend on how quickly the fast-track court mechanism is formally established and whether the Centre announces additional examination reforms. An agreed discussion in Parliament and a credible dialogue with genuine student representatives could help reduce the confrontation. Until then, the issue is likely to remain active both inside Parliament and on the streets, with the conduct of protesters, political parties and law-enforcement agencies under close public scrutiny.