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Section 12A: Fast tracked investigation and Special Fast Track Courts.

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024Central Act · Act 1 of 2024

[12A. Fast tracked investigation and Special Fast Track Courts.--- (1) The investigation of an offence under this Act, shall be completed---

(a) by an officer empowered to investigate under sub-section (1) of section 12, within a period of two months from the date on which the information was recorded by the officer in-charge of the police station; or

(b) by a Central Investigating Agency, within a period of two months from the date of a reference made to it by the Central Government under sub-section (2) of the said section; or

(c) by a Special Task Force, within a period of two months from the date of issuance of notification in this behalf by the Central Government under sub-section (2) of the said section.

(2) For the purposes of providing a speedy trial on day-to-day basis, every State Government and Union territory Administration shall, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the concerned High Court, by notification, designate a Court of Session, to be a Special Fast Track Court to try offences under this Act.

(3) A Special Fast Track Court designated under sub-section (2) shall, while trying offences under this Act, also try other offences connected thereto with which the accused may be charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) or any other law for the time being in force, at the same trial.

(4) In every trial of an offence under this Act, the proceedings shall be continued on day-to-day basis, until all the witnesses in attendance have been examined, unless the Special Fast Track Court, for reasons to be recorded in writing, finds that adjournment of the same beyond the following day is necessary:

Provided that such trial shall be completed within a period of three months from the date of filing of the chargesheet.

(5) The cases or trials pertaining to offences under this Act or any other law for the time being in force as specified in sub-section (3), which are pending on the date of commencement of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Act, 2026, shall stand transferred to the Special Fast Track Court designated under sub-section (2).

(6) The trial of cases transferred under sub-section (5) shall be conducted by the Special Fast Track Court designated under sub-section (2) from the stage it is received upon such transfer and shall be completed within a period of three months from the date of such receipt.

(7) Every State Government and Union territory Administration shall, by notification, appoint one or more Special Public Prosecutors for every Special Fast Track Court in accordance with sub-section (8) of section 18 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (46 of 2023), for conduct of cases under this Act.

(8) Every person appointed as a Special Public Prosecutor under this section, shall be deemed to be a Public Prosecutor within the meaning of clause (v) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (46 of 2023) and the provisions of that Sanhita shall apply accordingly.]

Where this provision sits

ActThe Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024
Section12A
Marginal noteFast tracked investigation and Special Fast Track Courts.
JurisdictionCentral
StatusIn force as published by the source

How this provision has been amended

Taken from the footnotes printed with the provision by the source. Where a footnote names the amending instrument, it is quoted as printed.

  • inserted, Act 10 of 2026. Ins. by Act 10 of 2026, s. 5 (w.e.f. 31.07.2026).

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