As the Monsoon Session of Parliament entered its fourth day, confrontation between the government and the Opposition intensified over examination paper leak issue. Congress MP KC Venugopal submitted an Adjournment Motion notice in the Lok Sabha, asking the House to suspend its regular business and hold an urgent discussion on what he described as a “severe and ongoing crisis” in India’s examination system.
The notice also demanded a debate on the police action against students who protested at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20.
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Congress raises questions over exam system
In his notice, Venugopal alleged that India has witnessed 152 question paper leak incidents involving major competitive examinations, including NEET. He claimed that the repeated failures of the examination system have deeply affected students across the country.
The Congress leader also referred to the emotional impact of the controversy, alleging that nearly 12 students died by suicide after losing hope in the examination process. He argued that these incidents reflected larger crisis in the country’s education system that required immediate parliamentary attention.
Allegations against Education Minister
Venugopal strongly criticised Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accusing him of failing to ensure accountability despite repeated examination controversies.
According to the notice, no meaningful arrests or criminal action have been taken against those allegedly responsible for the paper leaks, including coaching syndicates, officials, or other accused individuals.
The notice stated that Pradhan continues to remain in office despite presiding over an examination system that, according to the Congress, has repeatedly failed students. It argued that this violates the principle of ministerial responsibility and called for accountability.
Protest at Jantar Mantar linked to paper leak issue
The motion also connected the examination controversy with the July 20 protest organised during the CJP Parliament march in the national capital.
Venugopal alleged that students and young people who had gathered peacefully to demand accountability were subjected to police action. The notice claimed that protesters faced lathi charges, tear gas and suppression by the Delhi Police despite holding a peaceful demonstration.
It further alleged that Members of Parliament from the Congress and other Opposition parties who later staged a peaceful protest were also met with police force. According to the notice, the Leader of the Opposition and several MPs were attacked by Delhi Police personnel and dragged across the road.
Three key demands placed before the house
The Congress leader urged that the Lok Sabha be adjourned so that the Education Minister could make a suo motu statement explaining the alleged 152 paper leak cases and the reported lack of arrests in the matter.
The notice also placed three major demands before the government:
– Dharmendra Pradhan should accept moral and constitutional responsibility and resign from his post.
– Parliament should hold a full discussion on the NEET and CBSE issues, examination-related student suicides, and the broader education crisis.
– All police cases filed against students and youth who participated in the peaceful July 20 protest should be withdrawn.
Parliament deadlock continues
The latest notice comes as Parliament remains locked in a political standoff over the NEET-UG paper leak issue. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have seen repeated adjournments this week as the INDIA bloc continues to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan before any discussion takes place.
The government has maintained that it is prepared for a debate on the issue and has accused the Opposition of attaching fresh conditions. However, Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge has insisted that Pradhan must resign first to ensure fair and meaningful discussion in Parliament.