Mayawati cabinet okays bill on ragging

Mayawati cabinet okays bill on ragging

Lucknow, Dec 03: Paving the way for a total ban on ragging in educational institutions, the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday approved a proposed bill which envisages two-year prison terms and fines of Rs 10,000 for offenders.

The cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mayawati approved the draft ragging in Educational Institutions Bill 2007, cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh today reporters here.

He said under the bill, those found guilty could face up to two years in jail and a fine of Rs 10,000.

It permits students expelled from institutions on ragging charges to appeal within 30 days before a commissioner, whose decision in the matter would be final, Singh said.

The bill also provides that in case of written complaints by students, their parents or guardians and teachers, the head of the educational institution should probe the charges within a week.

The provision holds that the institution head should expel the offenders, if found guilty, within a week and file a complaint with the area police station.

The government's concerns have been raised over the numerous incidents of ragging across the state in the past few months in places like Greater Noida and gorakhpur.

Six students were expelled from Apeejay Institute of Technology in Greater Noida in October on ragging charges and an 18-year-old student of Madan Mohan Malviya Engineering College in Gorakhpur committed suicide in September after allegedly being tortured by his seniors.