The Allahabad High Court while rejecting a bail application said that cheating in government exams undermines the principles of meritocracy and equal opportunities. It perpetuates inequalities by favoring those, who could afford to pay for fraudulent activities, while disadvantaged those, who rely on their hard work and merit to succeed.
A Single Bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal passed this order while hearing a Criminal Misc Bail Application filed by Amit Kumar.
By means of the application, applicant, who is involved in Case under Sections 420/467/468/471 IPC and 3/9 of U.P Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, Police Station Shikohabad, District Firozabad, seeks enlargement on bail during the pendency of trial.
The prosecution story, as unfolded, reveals that in the examination conducted by U.P Police Recruitment Board for selection of Constables, applicant/Amit Kumar had appeared in the said examination in place of original candidate Sachin Yadav, which was conducted at P.R.T Saraswati Inter College, Shikohabad on 17.02.2024. During verification of biometric, which was mismatched, it was found that the applicant was appearing in the examination in place of original candidate Sachin Yadav, on the basis of forged admit card and Aadhar Card.
It is contended by the counsel for the applicant that the applicant has been falsely implicated in the case.
Counsel for the applicant submitted that the applicant is languishing in jail since 17.02.2024, having no criminal history to his credit, deserves to be released on bail. In case, the applicant is released on bail, he will not misuse the liberty of bail and shall cooperate with trial.
AGA has vehemently opposed the bail application and submitted that during examination for recruiting Constables in U.P Police, which was held on 17.02.2024, that the applicant had appeared in the said examination in place of original candidate Sachin Yadav, on the basis of forged admit card on which the photograph of applicant was pasted.
He further submitted that on a mismatch of biometric, applicant was caught by the school authorities on the spot and handed over to police, as such, bail application is liable to be rejected.
“I have heard counsel for the respective parties and perused the material on record. It is a case where the applicant had appeared in the examination, conducted by U.P Police Recruitment Board for recruiting Constables in U.P Police, in place of original candidate/Sachin Yadav and on mismatch of biometric he was apprehended on the spot by the school authorities.
The acts of cheating in examinations, thus, must be dealt with a stern hand, as their effects were not limited to an individual but impact society as a whole”, the Court observed while rejecting the Bail application.