29 June,2026 11:39 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic
Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday criticised the Maharashtra government over the alleged Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) paper leak in Bhiwandi, claiming that the state's education system has deteriorated and that a lack of accountability has allowed paper leak rackets to flourish.
In an editorial published in its mouthpiece Saamana, the party alleged that repeated examination paper leaks reflected systemic failures in governance and law enforcement.
"States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were once notorious for mass cheating and government-sponsored copying. Maharashtra has gone a step further. This new trade of government-sponsored 'paper leaks' is running in full swing. What else can one expect from those who plunder the donation boxes of the Ram Mandir?" the editorial said.
The party further claimed that Maharashtra has emerged as the country's main hub for examination paper leaks, adding that the issue had become a serious challenge for students and the education system.
Referring to the alleged NEET paper leak and the recent TET case, the editorial stated that Maharashtra's educational reputation had suffered due to repeated controversies.
"This is not just an isolated incident; it is a dark chronicle of the failure and corruption of the ruling Mahayuti government. It reflects a monstrous labyrinth born out of corruption and a sheer betrayal of the younger generation's future. Such incidents, which tarnish the prestige of Maharashtra, are happening repeatedly. The state that historically laid the foundation for education and social reform in India is now being forced to witness its daily decline. It is as if progressive Maharashtra is being systematically dismantled," the editorial said.
The editorial also questioned Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, alleging that the Home Department had failed to prevent repeated paper leak incidents.
The editorial argued that "paper leaks" have become increasingly common and compared them to political defections.
"Defecting legislators reportedly receive 50 crores each, while paper leaks destroy the futures of millions of youth. Given the gravity of the situation, Maharashtra's Education Minister has no right to remain in his post for even a single day," it said.
It further added, "The Home Department is being heavily utilised for political gains and to benefit the BJP. Maharashtra desperately needs a full-time Home Minister. If Fadnavis cannot do justice to the portfolio, he should voluntarily step down; but one wonders if such political morality is left among Maharashtra's ruling elite."
According to the editorial, a significant portion of the police force is deployed for the security of defected legislators, while examination security remains inadequate.
The Thackeray-led party said the TET examination is a crucial qualification for aspiring teachers and alleged that organised networks involving paper leak operators, brokers and corrupt officials have compromised recruitment processes.
The editorial alleged that "this is a 'well-entrenched racket consisting of the paper leak mafia, intermediary brokers, and corrupt officials'."
It further claimed, "Such papers cannot leak 24 hours before an exam and circulate freely on social media without strong backing from the ruling dispensation. The chain behind the NEET paper leak shares links with the BJP, and those responsible for the TET leak belong to the same political ecosystem. The government now merely buys time under the pretext of conducting an 'investigation'."
The party also referred to the alleged geographical spread of the NEET paper leak investigation, claiming that Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Latur and Nashik were linked to the case, while Bhiwandi has emerged as the centre of the TET paper leak controversy.
The editorial asked, "Can Home Minister Fadnavis answer why cases of paper leaks are repeatedly concentrated in Maharashtra?"
It further stated, "This is not merely an administrative failure; it is a calculated conspiracy to steal the dreams, hopes, and aspirations of the youth. While Prime Minister Modi sells new dreams to the younger generation during his foreign travels, the political machinery remains more invested in engineered political defections than in safeguarding the nation's academic integrity."
Concluding its criticism, the editorial said Maharashtra's education system had been seriously compromised, adding that "Despite the scale of these offences, the lack of accountability ensures that the illicit trade of paper leaks operates without fear."
It concluded, "Maharashtra has, unfortunately, outpaced states historically criticised for mass cheating, establishing a systemic crisis of institutionalised leaks. When those at the helm fail to protect basic institutional integrity, the youth are left to pay the ultimate price."
(With inputs from IANS)
