Ragging is a practice in educational institutions that involves existing students baiting or bullying new students. In the name of introduction or initiation,millions of students are brutally abused in many educational institutions. Ragginghas social, physical, political economic academic and physiological dimensions.
"Any disorderly conduct whether by words spoken or written, or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness any other student, indulging in rowdy or undisciplined activities which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological or physical harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in a fresher or a junior student and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of a fresher or a junior student."
"Every institution shall constitute a committee to be known as the Anti-Ragging Committee. To be nominated and headed by the Head of the institution, and consisting of representatives of civil and police administration, local media, Anti-Ragging Cell comprises Principal, Senior Faculty Members and Staff. Representatives of faculty members, representatives of students belonging to the fresher’s category as well as senior students, non-teaching staff; and shall have a diverse mix of membership in terms of levels as well as gender. It shall be the duty of the Anti-Ragging Committee to ensure compliance with the provisions of the regulations as well as the provisions of any law for the time being in force concerning ragging."
Honorable Supreme Court of India
Objectives:
Powers of Anti Ragging Squad:
Squads in-charge will be responsible for the following in their areas:
They will form duty charts & carryout regular checks for any Ragging activity in their areas.
They will carry out surprise checks in probable areas of ragging.
In case of any incidence noticed on the spot, assessment of the incidence be made and necessary action to be taken and inform the control cell immediately in given Performa.
Ensure anti-ragging instructions are displayed at prominent places in their areas of control.
Each squad in-charge will make detailed duty plan in respect of his squad and forward a list copy of the same to the control room.
Every squad in-charge will brief all members of his squad about their duties / action regarding anti-ragging.
In case of inadequacy of the member detailed in their respective teams,they may float additional requirements to the in-charge of anti-raggingcommittee.
The squad in-charge will collect the updated list of student including their latest address and phone no.s in respect of the classes run in theirblocks of their areas.
Punishable Ingredients of Ragging:
Abetment to ragging.
Criminal conspiracy to rag.
Unlawful assembly and rioting while ragging.
Violation of decency and morals through ragging
Injury to body causing hurt or grievous hurt.
Wrongful restraint.
Wrongful confinemen.t
Use of criminal force.
Extortion.
Assault/sexual offences/Unnatural offences.
Criminal intimidation.
Offences against property.
Attempt to commit any or above of the offences.
Any offence flowing from the definition of ragging.
Affidavit of Student:
A student during the admission process has to file an affidavit along with his parents/guardian’s signature, stating that he will not be ragging other students directly or indirectly.
Contact detail of Anti Ragging Helpline/Anti Ragging Committee/Anti Ragging Squad.
Every fresh student admitted to the institution shall be given a printed leaflet detailing to whom he/she has to turn to for help and guidance for various purposes including addresses and telephone numbers, so as to enable the student to contact the concerned person at any time. Identity of informants of ragging incidents is fully protected
Punishements of Ragging:
Ragging within or outside the educational institution is prohibited. Whoever dir ctly or indirectly commits, participates in, abets or instigates ragging inside or outside the educational institution shall be suspended, expelled or rusticated from the institution and shall also be liable to fine. The punishment includes rigorous imprisonment, cancellation of admission, suspension from attending classes, withholding/ withdrawing fellowships/ scholarships and other financial benefits, withholding or cancelling the results depending upon the nature and gravity of the offence as established by the Anti-Ragging Committee of the Institution, the possible punishments for those found guilty of ragging shall be any one or any combination of the following:
Cancellation of admission.
Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges.
Withholding/withdrawing scholarship, fellowship and other benefits.
Debarring from appearing in any test /exam/other evaluation process.
Withholding of results.
Debarring the student from representing the institution in any regional,national, international youth festival, meet, tournament, etc.
Suspension / expulsion from hostel.
Restriction from institution for a period of 1 to 4 years.
Expulsion from an institution and barring from admission in any other institution.
Fine up to Rs. 25,000/-.
Forfeiting Campus Placement opportunities / recommendations.
Rustication from the institution for a period, ranging from 1 to 3 years.
Expulsion from the institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other institution for a specific period
Collective punishment: When the persons committing or abetting the crime of ragging are not identified, the institution shall resort to collective punishment as a deterrent to ensure community pressure on the potential raggers.
- The possible punishment includes rigorous imprisonment (in compliance with the order of Supreme Court of India)