CJP Welcomes Tougher Anti-Paper Leak Law but Insists Education Minister’s Resignation Remains Non-Negotiable

New Delhi, July 2026 : The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Saturday welcomed the Centre’s decision to strengthen the legal framework against examination paper leaks but reiterated that its core demand remains the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The party made its position clear just hours before the third round of discussions with the Central government over the ongoing agitation against alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.

The latest developments come after a second round of talks held on Friday between senior Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh and a CJP delegation at the Constitution Club in New Delhi. During the meeting, the government reportedly assured the delegation that it would respond to the demands raised by the protesting students and their representatives.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the party had received a positive response from the government on several issues, including compensation for affected students and the withdrawal of legal cases filed against protesters. According to him, these assurances were accepted in principle, and the party expected a written commitment from the government during the next round of discussions.

However, Ranka stressed that the talks would have little meaning if the government continued to reject the demand for the resignation of the Education Minister.

“We received encouraging responses regarding compensation and legal cases during yesterday’s meeting, and we hope these commitments will be put in writing. But there has been no concrete decision on our primary demand — the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan,” he said.

Ranka also referred to media reports suggesting that the government had no intention of asking the Education Minister to step down.

“If the government has already decided that Dharmendra Pradhan will not resign, then what is the purpose of continuing these meetings? In that situation, we will move forward with the next phase of our strategy,” he added.

The Centre has, in the meantime, initiated a series of administrative measures in response to the controversy surrounding alleged examination paper leaks. The government recently replaced the Education Secretary and dismissed 47 officials of the National Testing Agency (NTA), signalling a broader effort to restore confidence in the examination system.

While acknowledging these actions, the CJP maintained that they were insufficient without political accountability at the highest level.

“We need to examine who these 47 officials are and the reasons behind the action taken against them. But our stand remains unchanged. The ultimate responsibility lies with the Union Education Minister, who heads the education system. He must take responsibility for the repeated paper leaks and the consequences faced by students,” Ranka said.

He further alleged that the examination controversies had deeply affected thousands of students and families across the country and argued that administrative changes alone could not address the larger issue of accountability.

The Centre, meanwhile, has moved to strengthen the legal framework governing public examinations. On Friday, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved a draft Bill proposing stringent amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024.

The proposed legislation introduces significantly harsher penalties for organised examination fraud. Under the amended provisions, those found guilty of orchestrating paper leaks could face imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to ₹10 crore.

The proposed amendments substantially increase the punishment prescribed under the existing law, which provides for imprisonment ranging from three to five years for individuals involved in examination malpractice, while organised offences currently attract jail terms between five and 10 years along with a minimum fine of ₹1 crore.

The Cabinet’s approval came shortly after Prime Minister Modi publicly announced the government’s intention to introduce fast-track courts and tougher legal measures to combat examination fraud. The Prime Minister had described paper leaks as a serious threat to students’ futures and pledged swift action against individuals and syndicates involved in such offences.

Despite welcoming the government’s legislative initiative, the CJP has maintained that stronger laws alone cannot resolve the crisis unless accountability is fixed at the ministerial level. With another round of talks scheduled, attention is now focused on whether the Centre and the protesting group can bridge their differences or whether the agitation will intensify in the coming days.