Special Judge Hearing NEET Paper Leak Case Transferred Days After Fast-Track Court Assignment
In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Delhi High Court has transferred Special Judge Anu Grover Baliga, who was presiding over the newly constituted fast-track court hearing the high-profile NEET-UG paper leak case. The transfer comes barely a week after she assumed charge of the court established to ensure speedy trials in examination fraud cases.
The transfer is part of a broader reshuffle involving 138 judicial officers across the Delhi district judiciary. Judge Baliga has now been posted to a Special NIA Court, where she will handle cases relating to terrorism and national security. The fast-track court dedicated to paper leak cases will now be headed by Special Judge Ajay Gupta, who will oversee all pending and future proceedings under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) law.
The fast-track court was created following the Centre’s decision to accelerate the prosecution of examination-related offences after a series of nationwide paper leak controversies. The NEET-UG paper leak investigation, being conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is among the most prominent cases before the court and has drawn nationwide attention due to its impact on lakhs of medical aspirants.
Judge Baliga had already initiated proceedings in the NEET-UG case, including hearings on the CBI’s chargesheet and procedural matters. During the court’s first hearing, proceedings were briefly delayed after no public prosecutor appeared on behalf of the CBI, prompting the court to direct the agency to ensure proper legal representation before further hearings.
The Delhi High Court has not cited any specific reason for the transfer, and judicial officials have indicated that the move is part of a routine administrative exercise rather than being linked to any particular case. Legal experts note that transfers of district judges are common and do not ordinarily affect the progress or merits of pending judicial proceedings.
Despite the change in judicial leadership, the functioning of the special fast-track court is expected to continue without interruption. Judge Ajay Gupta will inherit all pending matters, including the NEET-UG paper leak prosecution, as authorities seek to ensure swift trials and strengthen public confidence in India’s competitive examination system.
