Bombay High Court Designates Special Fast-Track Courts in Aurangabad and Nagpur for Public Examination Malpractice Cases

July 24, 2026 : The Bombay High Court has designated two Special Fast-Track Courts in Aurangabad and Nagpur to exclusively hear cases involving offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. These courts will also conduct trials for connected offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at University, Board and Other Specified Examinations Act, 1982.

The decision was taken by the Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court following a communication from the Union Ministry of Law and Justice dated July 23, 2026, requesting the establishment of dedicated courts to ensure the speedy disposal of cases relating to examination fraud and unfair practices.

According to the notification issued by the Registrar (Inspection-I) of the High Court, the Court of Shri S.V. Pawar, 10th Joint Civil Judge (Senior Division) and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Aurangabad, has been designated as the Special Fast-Track Court for cases arising within the Aurangabad judicial district. Likewise, the Court of Shri Gulshan R. Kolte, 7th Joint Civil Judge (Senior Division) and Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nagpur, has been designated to hear similar cases from the Nagpur judicial district.

The High Court has directed the Principal District and Sessions Judges of Aurangabad and Nagpur to formally notify these courts for conducting trials under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, along with related offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Maharashtra Prevention of Malpractices at University, Board and Other Specified Examinations Act, 1982.

The order further instructs the district judiciary to transfer all pending cases, if any, falling within the jurisdiction of these designated courts without delay and submit a compliance report to the High Court.

The creation of these dedicated Fast-Track Courts is intended to ensure the expeditious trial of cases involving paper leaks, examination fraud and other unfair means in public examinations. The move is expected to strengthen the enforcement of laws aimed at preserving the integrity, transparency and credibility of the public examination system.