Anti-Ragging Cell

Introduction

The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India has taken a serious note of the incidents of ragging and is of the view that stern action should be taken against those indulging in “ragging” so that these incidents are not repeated and exemplary punishment is meted out to those indulging in it. Strict implementation of the guidelines issued by Honorable Supreme Court on this issue has also been stressed by the Ministry.

Ragging is a criminal offence and lowers the standards of education. The ‘anti- ragging policy’ adopted by the Institute takes care of preventive, procedural and punitive aspects of ragging based on the guidelines provided by Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, recommendations of the Raghavan Committee, instructions /guidelines issued by the Ministry of HRD (Govt. of India)

Ragging – Meaning

The term ‘ragging’ means 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 student, indulging in rowdy or undisciplined activities which cause or are likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological 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 psyche of a fresher or a junior student.

Anti-Ragging Committee Members

Sr.No. Name Designation
1 Dr. Nitin Agarwal Chairman
2 Mr. Ghyansham Jha Convenor
3 Mr. B.D. Mishra Member
4 Ms. Shweta Borhade Member
5 Mrs. Lalta devi Nirmal Member

Who can be the victims of Ragging?

The newly inducted students in the university, in various courses, can be the victims of ragging. Though the newly inducted students, also called freshers in popular terminology are more likely to be the victims, yet in some cases this can include other students in the campus.

Objectives and Responsibility of the Anti-Ragging Committee (ARC)

  • To set up a complaints committee for redressal of ragging complaints in the College campus;
  • To provide safe learning and working environment free of any kind of bullying and ragging;
  • To ensure safe accommodation for students studying away from their place of residence;
  • To ensure a conspicuous display of penal consequences of indulging in acts that may constitute ragging;
  • To organize workshops, seminars and awareness programs at regular intervals for sensitizing students, on issues regarding ragging and its consequences;
  • To ensure timely submission of reports by the committee; to mandatorily submit an annual report by the Anti-Ragging Committee;
  • To facilitate an environment where the complaints regarding ragging can be reportedto the ARC.

Responsibilities

  • To be vigilant at all hours all around the campus and other places vulnerable to incidents of, and having the potential of, ragging and shall be empowered to inspect such places.
  • To conduct an on-the-spot enquiry into any incident of ragging referred to it by the faculty or student or parent or guardian, as the case may be: and the enquiry report along with recommendations shall be submitted to the Head of the Institution for action.
  • To offer services of counselling and create awareness to the students.

As per the UGC notification in regard to prevention and prohibition of ragging in Higher Education Institutions, the College has constituted the Anti-Ragging Committee to prohibit, prevent and eliminate ragging on the College campus. Ragging is a criminal offense. Ragging is strictly prohibited by both State Govt. and Central Govt. Punishment for ragging will be as follows:

  • (i) Imprisonment up to three years and fine of Rs.10,000/-
  • (ii) Dismissal from the college

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

  1. 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 othe student.
  2. Indulging in rowdy or in disciplined 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Any act by a senior student that prevents, disrupts or disturbs the regular academic activity of any other student or a fresher.
  5. Exploiting the services of a fresher or any other student for completing the academic tasks assigned to an individual or a group of students.
  6. Any act of financial extortion or forceful expenditure burden put on a fresher or any other student by students.
  7. 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.
  8. Any act or abuse by spoken words, emails, post, 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.
  9. 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.
  10. Any act of physical or mental abuse (including bullying and exclusion) targeted at another student (fresher or otherwise) on the ground of color, race, religion, caste, ethnicity, gender (including transgender), sexual orientation, appearance, nationality, regional origins, linguistic identity, place of birth, place of residence or economic background.

Procedure for registering complaints

I. All complaints must be brought by the complainant in person or can be reported by the victim’s acquaintances/ guardian belonging to the university or otherwise.

II. If the complainant wishes s/he can be accompanied by a representative

Enquiry Procedures

  1. All complaints made to any committee member must be received and recorded by the member, who shall then inform the Chairperson about the complaint, who in turn shall call a meeting of the committee. The same shall be complied if the complaint is made directly to the chairperson.
  2. All meetings of the committee will be called either by the member (of the committee) in consultation with the Chairperson or by the Chairperson and a notice of at least 3 to 5 working days must be given to all the other members.
  3. The committee is bound to maintain confidentiality during the time of the enquiry (in order not to prejudice the proceedings).
  4. During the enquiry procedure, the complainant and the accused will be called separately so as to ensure freedom of expression and an atmosphere free of intimidation. The complainant will be allowed to be accompanied by one representative during the enquiry.
  5. During an enquiry all committee members including the Chairperson are required to be present mandatorily.
  6. The ARC will, within ten days of the receipt of a complaint, establish a prima facie case of ragging on the basis of both the definition of ragging as given in this policy, and the jurisdiction of this policy. Reasons for not pursuing a complaint must be recorded in the minutes and made available to the complainant in writing.
  7. The ARC must inform the accused in writing about the charges made against him/her/they and s/he /they/ should be given a period of 5 working days from the date of receipt of the notification to respond to the charges. No extension with regard to the receipt of response from the defendant shall be given and in the absence of any response from the defendant it shall be construed that he/she/they have waived their right/opportunity of fair hearing; in which case the matter will be decided on the basis of facts presented by the complainant.
  8. The Chairperson of ARC must submit its report to the Vice Chancellor not later than 30 working days from the establishment of case of ragging (as mentioned in point VI of Section 2.5). Also, based on the report the committee shall make recommendations regarding the punitive actions, if required.
  9. The entire process of enquiry should be completed within 40 days (10 working days from the receipt of the complaint up to the establishment of Ragging case + 30 working days taken by the committee for conducting the hearing and documenting the report).
  10. The complainant or the accused may re-appeal to ARC if they are dissatisfied with the decision. In this case, the Vice Chancellor shall constitute a new 3-member appellate committee specific to this enquiry. The constitution of this appellate committee shall be a prerogative of the Chairmen
  11. The appellate committee (as mentioned above in point no. X of Section 2.5) shall be bound to submit its report (with recommendations regarding punitive actions) post investigation in not more than 30 working days. Also, second appeal shall not be entertained.
  12. The appellate committee shall stand dissolved, after the submission of the report of the specific case for which it was constituted in the first place.

Procedure of redressal

  1. ARC shall submit its report, maintaining the timelines (as mentioned in point no IX of Section 2.5) to the Chairmen
  2. The Chairmen upon receipt of the enquiry report, shall initiate disciplinary action on the basis of the recommendations of the ARC within 7 working days from the submission of the enquiry report.

Punitive Actions

  1. On the basis of the findings and recommendations of the ARC following punitive actions can be initiated:
    • Warning
    • Written apology
    • Bond of good behaviour
    • Debarring entry into a hostel/ campus
    • Debarring from exams
    • Withholding results
    • Debarring from contesting elections in the Students’ Council
    • Suspension for a specific period of time
    • Expulsion
    • Denial of admission
      *Depending upon the gravity of the case if the matter falls within the ambit of IPC 1860 or any law for the time being in force in the country or state, then such matter shall deem to be outside the purview of the Anti – Ragging Committee and hence shall be dealt in accordance with that law or statute. The ARC will, in this case, act only as a facilitator to the agencies concerned.
  2. Degree of punitive action as recommended by the ARC shall depend upon the extent of injury caused to the complainant and findings of the committee.
  3. Any matter, the gravity of which is beyond the scope of the aforesaid committee, shall be dealt in accordance with any law for the time being in force in the state or country.
Scroll to Top