A bill that would penalize anyone found to have used unfair methods in recruitment examinations with a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of Rs 10 crore was introduced by the Assam government on Monday in the state assembly.

The Assam Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2024 was introduced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who said that any government employee enforcing the provisions in “good faith” would be granted complete immunity under the proposed law.

Sarma said that the Bill’s Memorandum gives the government the right to prosecute anyone who attempts to leak, create, sell, publish, or solve exam questions in order to assist a candidate or administer exams at non-designated locations. This includes test takers.

The Bill stipulates that the offender would be subject to a minimum five-year prison sentence, with the possibility of an extension to ten years, along with a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh and a maximum fine of Rs 10 crore.

In addition, the recently proposed law stipulated that an examinee who merely uses unfair methods could be sentenced to a maximum of three years in prison, a fine of at least Rs one lakh, and an additional nine months in jail if they don’t pay.

Additionally, the Bill grants the government the power to bar any examinee found guilty under this law from taking part in another public examination for a period of two years.