J&K Designates Fast Track Courts for Exam Unfair Means Casesکشمیر

The order was made by the Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (2) of Section 12A of the Act, and in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The statutory order was notified on Thursday by the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs of the J&K government, bringing the designated courts into effect for examination-related cases.

<h2>Why fast track courts matter</h2> The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, is the central legislation enacted to prevent the use of unfair means — including paper leaks and organised cheating — in public examinations. It lays down stringent penalties for those found guilty of compromising the integrity of examinations conducted by public examination authorities.

The designation of special fast track courts creates dedicated judicial forums for the trial of such offences, so that cases of examination malpractice are heard expeditiously rather than through the ordinary trial process. Fast track courts are set up to ensure time-bound trials, and the new designation means examination malpractice cases in Jammu and Kashmir will now be heard in dedicated courts in both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions.

The central Act was brought into force in 2024 amid concerns over paper leaks in public examinations across the country, and several states and Union Territories have since taken steps to give effect to its provisions. The latest notification brings Jammu and Kashmir&#8217;s judicial machinery in line with the statute by earmarking specific courts for these trials.

With the notification now in place, cases registered under the Act in the Union Territory are expected to be tried in the newly designated special courts at Jammu and Srinagar, officials said.