Early classes for freshers in offing

NEW DELHI: Ragging could soon become a cognisable offence with the severity of punishment varying with the degree of ragging. Also, parents will have to give in writing at the time of admission that their child will not rag.

To ensure the new batch is familiar with each other and the campus, classes for freshers may start at least seven days before the regular academic session begins.

These and other suggestions are part of a report drafted by the SC-appointed R K Raghavan committee, which met at IIT-Delhi on Saturday. The committee will meet again on Sunday to give finishing touches to the report that is to be presented to the SC on Tuesday.

With sexual harassment or abuse against the victim being an important component of ragging in most cases, the committee — which was constituted in November last year — has observed that defining ragging as a cognisable offence could prove to be most effective. To ensure that ‘lesser culprits’ don’t get off scot-free, the committee has proposed different penalties, which should be proportional to the degree of ragging.

Former CBI director Raghavan and his team have also taken into consideration the suggestion of anti-ragging NGO StopRagging.org and proposed a counselling cell be set up in all educational institutions. ‘‘This will ensure healthy interaction among the freshers and seniors,’’ said Rohit Kaler from the NGO.

(coursty: The Times Of India, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Early_classes_for_freshers_in_offing/articleshow/2008062.cms)