Delhi HC Transfers Special Judge Anu Grover Baliga; Ajay Gupta To Take Over Fast-track Court For NEET-UG Paper Leak Cases

Judge Baliga, who assumed charge of the special paper leak court at Rouse Avenue Courts on July 25, spent just over a week hearing matters before being transferred to a Special Court constituted under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act to deal with terrorism-related cases.

The transfer comes days after the Delhi High Court, on July 23, designated a special fast-track court to exclusively hear criminal cases relating to paper leaks and other unfair practices in public examinations.

Special Judge Ajay Gupta, who had earlier been hearing paper leak cases, including the high-profile NEET-UG paper leak matter, has now been posted back to the designated paper leak court and will continue hearing the cases.

The special court had held its first hearing in the NEET paper leak case on July 27. However, the proceedings were adjourned at the request of the defence, and the matter is now listed before Judge Gupta for consideration of the CBI's chargesheet as well as the bail applications of two accused.

The transfer order, issued on Saturday, i.e. August 2, also posted several other judicial officers to Special Courts under the NIA Act. Special Judges Vikas Dhull, Prashant Sharma, Pulastya Pramachala, Kiran Bansal and Amit Bansal have also been assigned to NIA courts dealing with terrorism-related cases.

The designated paper leak court was established following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that fast-track courts would be set up to ensure the expeditious disposal of cases involving examination paper leaks. Addressing the issue, PM Modi said protecting the future of students was a top priority and asserted that those responsible for compromising the integrity of examinations would face swift justice through dedicated courts.

Pursuant to the decision, the Delhi High Court designated a special court at Rouse Avenue to hear cases under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and directed that all such cases be transferred to it.