Andhra Pradesh   

The raging menace called ragging

R. Ravikanth Reddy

EducationPlus The Andhra Pradesh Prohibition of Ragging Act has enough teeth to catch and punish culprits, but it needs guts on the part of juniors to register complaints and concern on the part of the managements to act on them

Keep the smiles going: Getting to know juniors need not be a painful experience for either side. Photo: R. V. Moorthy

On walking through the portals of their dream destinations fresh students have mixed feelings of excitement, exhilaration, anxiety, apprehension and a bit of fear. The picture of great college life is constantly in their minds. But the recent disturbing ragging incidents in the State have no doubt created several doubts among students and their parents. They have realised that behind the niceties of college life lies monstrous ragging that can devastate them and destroy their life. Despite assurances from the Government the menace still awaits in the form of some misguided seniors who have a misconception that ragging is their right.

As engineering colleges, medical schools and other professional colleges have open their gates to newcomers, will they be assured of a safe college life, at least initially when ragging is in its most ugly form?

"Fresh students are assured of a peaceful life on the campus and we have taken all the necessary steps," says JNTU Vice Chancellor K. Rajagopal. Ragging will not be allowed at any cost and parents too can send the children without any hesitation, he says.

In fact, the JNTU, to which 230-odd engineering colleges are affiliated, had a meeting of principals and college managements separately where they were clearly told that it was their responsibility to contain ragging. Chaired by Prof. Rajagopal, the meeting felt that people involved in ragging should not be spared, as any negligence can have a disastrous effect not just on the people harassed but all junior students.

The delay in conducting freshers' day is found to be one major reason for continuation of ragging. Realising this, the Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) sent a note to all colleges to complete the freshers' day celebrations as soon as possible. "It generally helps seniors to interact and make the juniors comfortable giving them a lot of confidence," says an official of APSCHE.

The APSCHE has sent copies of the Andhra Pradesh Prohibition of Ragging Act (1997) to all Vice Chancellors asking them to take measures accordingly. The Act has enough teeth to catch and punish the culprits but all that one needs is some guts to register complaints and support from college managements that should care more for their students then the institution's image.

The punishment includes rustication from college and jail term if the case is proved. The Act makes it mandatory for colleges to initiate several steps including printing brochures and circulating them, putting up posters at all places in the college, taking declarations from seniors, organising meetings with students and media. As per the Act, the anti-ragging movement should be initiated by the institution right from the time of advertisement for admissionsdetailing the punishments that include expulsion from the institution and/or imprisonment up to three years, and/or fine up to Rs. 25,000.

Prof. Rajgopal says that the university has been acting promptly on complaints. Students involved in ragging in an engineering college in Rajam in Srikakulam district were debarred immediately though freshers were not involved. In fact, NSS volunteers are also involved. "We will introduce a complaint box on the JNTU website on which students can log in and lodge their complaints," he says.

Girls' security

Regarding measures to ensure security for girls, authorities say each college should keep a close watch on the visits of strangers to the college campus and girls' hostels. The principals should organise meetings with girl students of the college to advise them to regulate their own movements. Girl students should also be advised to communicate with their parents, relatives and the college authorities about instances of harassment or advances by male students.

College principals also have to constitute committees of socially active teachers, including some women teachers and hostel wardens. Principals should ensure that the proceedings of the various meetings organised for this purpose are highlighted in the local press.

Dr. Rajagopal says that colleges have to send compliance reports to the university. Students have options to register their complaints without revealing their identity. The Director of Medical Education (DME) has facilitated an online complaint box for medical college students.

They can log on to http://dme.ap.nic.in and register their complaint.

The identity of the complainant will be kept confidential.

What the law says

What the Andhra Pradesh Prohibition of Ragging Act (1997) prescribes:

For teasing or embarrassing or humiliating a student: imprisonment up to six months or fine up to Rs. 1,000 or both

For assaulting or using criminal force or criminally intimidating a student: imprisonment up to one year or a fine up to Rs. 2,000 or both For restraining, or causing hurt to a student: imprisonment up to two years or fine up to Rs. 5,000 or both For causing grievous hurt to or kidnapping, raping or committing unnatural offence with a student: imprisonment up to five years and fine up to Rs. 10,000

For causing death or abetting suicide: imprisonment for life or up to 10 years with a fine extending to Rs. 50,000 A student convicted of an offence and punished with imprisonment for a term shall be dismissed from the educational institution. A student convicted of an offence under and punished with imprisonment for a term of more than six months shall not be admitted in any other educational institution.

Whenever any student complains of ragging to the head or manager of an educational institution, such head or manager should inquire into the complaint and if the complaint is prima-facie found true, should suspend the student or students complained against. If the head or manager of an educational institution fails or neglects to take action in the manner specified in the Act, the person shall be deemed to have abetted the offence and shall be punished with the punishment provided for the offence.

If a student commits suicide due to or in consequence of ragging, the person who commits such ragging shall be deemed to have abetted such suicide

Enough safety

Ragging is prohibited as per Act 26 of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, 1997. It entails heavy fines and or imprisonment Ragging invokes suspension and dismissal from college. Outsiders are prohibited from entering the college and hostels without permission Girl students must be in their hostel rooms by 9 p.m.

All students must carry their identity cards and show them on demand. Principal and wardens can visit the hostels and inspect the rooms anytime.

Suspended students are debarred from entering the campus except when required to attend enquiry and to submit an explanation.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Former Supreme Court judges felicitated
The raging menace called ragging
Get your resume right
AU ventures into emerging areas
Pitiable plight
MBA admissions
Briefly

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu