Anti Ragging

1. Objectives

In view of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in SLP No. 24295 of 2006 dated 16-05-2007 and in Civil Appeal number 887 of 2009 (University of Kerala Versus Council, Principals’ Colleges, Kerala and Ors.), dated 08-05-2009 to prohibit, prevent and eliminate the scourge of ragging including any conduct by any student or students whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness a fresher or any other student, or indulging in rowdy or indisciplined activities by any student or students which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other student or asking any student to do any act which such student will not in the ordinary course do and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame, or torment or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of such fresher or any other student, with or without an intent to derive a sadistic pleasure or showing off power, authority or superiority by a student over any fresher or any other student, in all higher education institutions in the country, and thereby, to provide for the healthy development, physically and psychologically, of all students, Nirwan University brings forth these Regulations.

2. What constitutes Ragging

Ragging constitutes one or more of any of the following acts.

• Any conduct by any student or students whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness a fresher or any other student.
• Indulging in rowdy or undisciplined activities by any student or students which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship, physical or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other student.
• Asking any student to do any act which such student will not in the ordinary course do and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame, or torment or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of such fresher or any other student.
• Any act by a senior student that prevents, disrupts or disturbs the regular academic activity of any other student or a fresher.
• Exploiting the services of a fresher or any other student for completing the academic tasks assigned to an individual or a group of students.
• Any act of financial extortion or forceful expenditure burden put on a fresher or any other student by students.
• Any act of physical abuse including all variants of it: sexual abuse, homosexual assaults, stripping, forcing obscene and lewd acts, gestures, causing bodily harm or any other danger to health or person
• Any act or abuse by spoken words, emails, posts, or public insults which would also include deriving perverted pleasure, vicarious or sadistic thrill from actively or passively participating in the discomfiture to fresher or any other student
• Any act that affects the mental health and self-confidence of a fresher or any other student with or without an intent to derive a sadistic pleasure or showing off power, authority or superiority by a student over any fresher or any other student.

3. Measures for Prevention of Ragging

• The advertisement issued for admission by Nirwan University or the admission authority as the case may be, shall clearly mention that ragging is totally banned and anyone found guilty of ragging and/or abetting ragging is liable to be punished.
• The ‘Prospectus’ and other admission-related documents shall contain directions of the Supreme Court. These Regulations shall be printed in the admission/instruction booklet brochure for candidates.
• The application form for admission/enrolment shall have a printed affidavit, preferably either in English or Hindi. The affidavit should be filled up and signed by the candidate to the effect that he/she is aware of the law regarding the prohibition of ragging as well as the punishments, and that he/she, if found guilty of the offence of ragging and/or abetting ragging, is liable to be punished appropriately.
• The application form shall also contain a printed affidavit, preferably either in English or Hindi and the affidavit should be signed by the parent/guardian of the applicant to the effect that he/she is also aware of the law in this regard and agrees to abide by the punishment meted out to his/her ward in case the latter is found guilty of ragging and/or abetting ragging.
• The application for admission shall be accompanied by a document along with the School Leaving Certificate/Character Certificate which shall include a report on the behavioral pattern of the applicant so that the institution can thereafter keep intense watch upon the student who has a negative entry in this regard.
• A student seeking admission to the hostel shall have to submit another affidavit along with his/her application for hostel accommodation that he/she is also aware of the law in this regard and agrees to abide by the punishments meted out if he/she is found guilty of ragging and/or abetting ragging.
• Each batch of freshers should be divided into small groups and each such group shall be assigned to a member of staff. Such staff members should interact individually with each member of the group on a daily basis to ascertain the problems/difficulties, if any faced by the freshers in the Institution and extend necessary help.
• In case of freshers admitted to a Hostel it shall be the responsibility of the teacher in charge of the group to co-ordinate with the warden of the Hostel and to make surprise visits to the rooms in the hostel where the members of the group are lodged. Freshers should be lodged in a separate hostel block wherever possible and where such facilities are not available, the college/institution shall ensure that seniors’ access to freshers’ accommodation is strictly monitored by wardens, Security Guards, and Staff.
• Every institution should engage or seek the assistance of professional counselors at the time of admissions to counsel ‘freshers’ in order to prepare them for the life ahead, particularly for adjusting to life in hostels. At the commencement of the academic session, the Head of the University shall convene and address a meeting of various functionaries/agencies, like Wardens, representatives of students, parents/guardians, faculty, and district administration including police, to discuss the measures to be taken to prevent ragging and steps to be taken to identify the offenders and punish them suitably.
• Every fresher admitted to the University shall be given a printed information booklet detailing when and whom he/she has to turn to for help and guidance for various purposes (including Wardens, the Head of the institution, members of the anti–ragging committee, relevant district and police authorities), addresses and telephone numbers of such persons/authorities, etc.
• The University through the information booklet mentioned above shall explain to the new entrants the arrangements for their induction and orientation which promote efficient and effective means of integrating them fully as students.
• The information booklet mentioned above shall also tell the freshers about their rights as bona fide students and clearly instruct them that they should desist from doing anything against their will even if ordered by the seniors, and that they have nothing to fear as the institution cares for them and shall not tolerate any atrocities against them.
• To make the community at large and the students, in particular, aware of the dehumanizing effect of ragging, and the approach of the institution towards those indulging in ragging, big posters (preferably with different colors for the provisions of law, punishments, etc.) shall be prominently displayed on all Notice Boards of all departments, hostels and other buildings as well as at vulnerable places Some of such posters shall be of permanent nature in certain vulnerable places.
• The University shall request the media to give adequate publicity to the law prohibiting ragging and the negative aspects of ragging and the institutions ‘s resolve to ban ragging and punish those found guilty without fear or favor.
• The University shall utilize the vacation period before the start of the new academic year to launch a wide publicity campaign against ragging through posters, information booklets, seminars, street plays, etc.
• The faculties/departments/units of the University shall have induction arrangements (including those which anticipate, identify, and plan to meet any special needs of any specific section of students) in place well in advance of the beginning of the academic year with a clear sense of the main aims and objectives of the induction process.
• Mobile Phones and other communication devices may be permitted in residential areas including hostels to provide access to the students, particularly freshers, to reach out for help from teachers, parents, and Institution authorities.

4. Actions to be taken against students for indulging and abetting ragging in university

The punishment to be meted out to the persons indulged in ragging has to be exemplary and justifiably harsh to act as a deterrent against the recurrence of such incidents.

• (a) The Anti-Ragging Committee of the institution shall take an appropriate decision, with regard to punishment or otherwise, depending on the facts of each incident of ragging and the nature and gravity of the incident of ragging.
• (b)Depending upon the nature and gravity of the offence as established the possible punishments for those found guilty of ragging at the institution level shall be any one or any combination of the following:
  • Cancellation of admission
  • Suspension from attending classes
  • Withholding/withdrawing scholarship/fellowship and other benefits
  • Debarring from appearing in any test/examination or other evaluation process
  • Withholding results
  • Debarring from representing the institution in any regional, national, or international meet, tournament, youth festival, etc.
  • Suspension/expulsion from the hostel
  • Rustication from the institution for a period ranging from 1 to 4 semesters
  • Expulsion from the institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other institution.
  • (x)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 triggers.

5. Appeal

An appeal against the order of punishment by the Anti-Ragging Committee shall lie,

• In case of an order of an institution, affiliated to or constituent part, of the University, to the Vice-Chancellor of the University
• ii.In case of an order of a University, to its Chancellor.