RAGGING –A BURNING QUESTION

The concept of ragging must have developed initially for the purpose of creating bonding between seniors and juniors in the form of introduction but as we observe, it could not become means for familiarisation with freshers in any manner .Instead it has become a terrorizing act leading to financial extortion or sexual abuse,forcing obscene acts and gestures and even ending up with rape .It is no less than the atrocities of the kind given to the prisoners confined to jails Indulging into ragging is reprehensible aberrations eradicating all the  values from our education system.it reflects how our academic institutions are badly suffering from erosion of sensitivity.The form of ragging seen is a result of mental sickness to be curbed by all means.-Dr Prem lata

            Sreries of ragging  events leading to depression and deaths of students alarmed some of the NGO’s to wake up and they worked as bull fighters against this social evil A religious and culcural organization Vishwa Jagriti Mission filed a PIL (Public Interest Litigation)No 656 of 1998 Vishwa  Jgriti Mission v Central Govt. through Cabinet secretary & others before the Supreme court of India comprising a bench of two judges Justice R.C Lahoti and Justice Brijesh Kumar . Judiciary took a remarkable step by constituting a committee headed by Dr R.K.Raghwan ,former director of CBI to look int the matter and prepare a report .The report was presented before the Honb.SC and Govt of India was given directions to act upon the observations and made and guidelines given  by the committee.UGC also took immediate action by framing Regulations on curbing the menance of ragging in Higher Educational Institutions ,2009 (under section 26(1)(g) of the university grant commission act ) for the institutions and circulars were also issued to the various universities /institutions for implementing the same.

Hon’b.Supreme cour noted  

“ragging can be stopped by creatingan awareness amongst students ,teachers and parents thatit is a reprehensible actwhich does no good to any one and by simultaneously generating an atmosphereof discipline by sending a clear message that no act of ragging shall be toleratedand any act of ragging shall not go unnoticed and unpunished.’’

Ragging defined by the apex court:

‘‘Any disorderly conduct whether by words spoken or written or an act which has an effect of teasing,treating or handling with rudeness an other student indulging in rowdy or indisciplined activities whichcauses or likely to cause annoyance,hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension theref in a fresher or a junior student….’’          

The punishment may also take the shape of:

1.      withholding scholarship or other benefits

2.      debarring from representation in events

3.      withholding results

4.      suspension or expulsion from hostel or mess and the like.

 

NGO’s working for the cause:

1.      Vishwa Jagriti Mission

2.      CURE(Coalition to uproot ragging from education

3.      SAVE(Society against voilence in education)

4.      SPACE(Society of people;s action change and enforcement)

5.      SATHEE

 

‘My death will bring about a change’

said Aman satya kachroo,student of Dr Rajendra Prasad Govt. Medical college Tanda District Kangra Himachal Pradesh who was subjected to ragging and  who ended his life .

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