A tale of two universities

Delhi continues to strive towards a brighter future unmarred by the menace of ragging....in a matter of few weeks , the whole campus of the celebrated University of Delhi will be under electronic surveillance. The University authorities in collaboration with the Delhi Police are putting up 47 CCTV s across the campus in order to avoid any untoward incidents. The authorities have also expressed their desire of setting up a 24-hour helpline for students to call in in the event of ragging or eve-teasing. Way to go Delhi! Three cheers!

But again, to remind us that there is along way to go before we sleep, is the University of Punjab. A complaint was lodged against some second year students a couple of weeks ago. They were accused of forcing freshers to strip and walk naked around the campus.
Quite serious an offence, I say! Well,according to the University authorities, not quite. The students have been suspended for a week.
The Dean of Social Welfare commented that the University had set up a committee to "look" into the matter; though has it that the authorities have decided to hush the matter up and term it as an "interactive session"! So apparently, Raghavan committee can go to the dogs!

Depressing? Exasperating?Vexing?

Death at my doorstep

Apparently water isn't safe anymore.Not when you are in college.

Gurkirat Singh, freshman at The Government Sports College, Chandigarh,didn't know that. He is dead.

Accusations have been flying thick and fast for the past few days. The son of farmer,Gurkirat was a promising basketball player who was found entangled to the college pool's ladder by a student who jumped in at the insistence of a teacher who apparently got worried since Gurkirat had been missing for hours.

The college Principal has till now been nonchalant, insisting that Gurkirat along with a bunch of other students had forced entry into the pool by manhandling the watchman and then had subsequently died because he didn't know how to swim.

The truth appears, however, to be much more sinister.

A certain man by the name of Harkanwal Singh, who also happens to be the boy's father, alleged in the "Times Of India" that his son had been a victim of ragging. Far from an accident,this was a case of homicide.
He says that his son had called him up a few days ago and stated how the "seniors" were pestering him incessantly. They were harassing him and threatening him and he had begun to lose morale. The father says there are bruises and marks of a scuffle in the boy's hands and feet, clearly showing that he was stopped by force from coming out of the water.
He also says that Gurkirat knew how to swim.


The college authorities remain dutifully firm over their side of the story. They say that the pool was off-limits for students in general and Gurkirat forced his way in. They however,cannot specify any motive for Gurkirat to have done so.
Indeed it is difficult to imagine why a freshman would do so! The college authorities also are trying hard to shove the ragging issue under the carpet. The police have registered a case but personally speaking, their progress seems rather suspect.
They have so far "quizzed" the students about ragging and as expected, all of them have said that there was no ragging going on. They apparently said that the "incidents were not serious and couldn't be called ragging."


Ragging or no ragging, Gurkirat Singh is dead. And it serves me no joy in typing that he might be the first ragging death this year. However,the greater fear is that he is the first of many.

Rapscallion

This isn't original...this is a jewel I stumbled upon on "The Transparent Mirror" http://www.transparentmirror.inamorata.nu/, the site of a gifted friend of mine.
Read it and see if you smile or shake your head.

First year of college, a scared fresher staggers close to the door of his class.

“May I come in, Sir?” His breath is fast and the teacher inspects him suspiciously. “You know you’re late!” he barked.

“Yes Sir. Sorry Sir. Some seniors detained me near the cycle stand . . . I was

“Never mind, take your seat and next time be on time and avoid seniors, have you understood?”

With eyes lowered, he simply nods and takes his seat.

---

Second year at college, some roles change and people’s perspective undergoes the same.

The same student is late again. He waits majestically outside the class until his teacher makes the mistake of noticing him. He inspects him disdainfully,

“So why are you late, Sir?” The teacher asks without caring to hide his sarcasm.

“I was nearly on time for your class but ..

“What?”

“I found some first year students loitering near the cycle stand.”

So did you smile or did you shake your head?

Jadavpur does it again!

I start today with a personal recollection....I remember,on my first day at St.Xavier's,whilst I expressed indignation at the attempts at ragging by our seniors,i was rebutted in unison unequivocally by my peers.I was told to chill because there was nothing serious going on,nothing in comparison with the great Jadavpur University.
Over the length of the next week,I was educated by my friends and seniors alike that whatever was going on in my college,however disgusting,humiliating and reprehensible,was nothing compared to Jadavpur University and its battalion of merry men.Some even expressed disgust at the feeble attempts at ragging in our college...Xaverians are novices,it was said;the real expertise lay elsewhere.

Last week,Jadavpur University added another "feather" to its "ragging cap" and in doing so,firmly ensured itself of the position of fear mixed reverence that most people my age treat that institution.A young girl,enrolled in the Architecture department,was being "educated in the way of the university" ,also called "ragging" by some fools,by her seniors.The seniors,innocent and pure,assaulted her physically,pulled her hair and forced her to chew cigarettes and smoke a few cigarettes herself.(The Statesman,The Star News Service)...Some rumours have also blasphemously suggested that the cigarettes contained some form of drug.

Of course,immediate action was taken and the authorities "scolded" the seniors!I wonder why The Supreme Court didn't think of scolding as the ultimate punishment for ragging.
As news began to spread and crowds gathered outside those hallowed gates,the college authorities responded in a manner in which most Indian problems are tackled...They formed a probe.Of course,the media was fended off for the moment and in any case,when the probe turns in its report,if ever,the media won't be around to examine it.
The name of the girl was withheld as was the names of the felons because,apparently the college was worried about the reputation of the "poor" girl!I wonder,if they had shown the same concern earlier,the whole incident might have been avoided.

What have the great University management done to combat ragging?According to The Times Of India and Expressindia.com,they have done a lot!They have put up the supreme court notices on billboards,they have formed committees and they have scolded people in general!
And their ideas to stop ragging?Even better!Ensure freshers don't get free periods and stop them from remaining on the campus after classes.Wow!So all we have to do is to turn colleges into military camps!

This isn't a slur against a particular institution.i have nothing against Jadavpur.I am just plain amazed that the students of such a prestigious institution indulge in such heinous acts without even a twinge of conscience.Knowing my peers,they must have just gloated about the whole incident....the more perplexing thing is the attitude of the authorities;they seem hardly serious about the whole incident.Their primary concern seems to brush the whole thing under the carpet.

But that isn't the saddest thing...the saddest thing is the way in which people will remember this incident...A few months down the line,the same story will probably be repeated to juniors in all colleges across Calcutta with more amusement than empathy.A few months down the line,the girl's fate will probably be exemplified as what happens to people who don't listen to seniors.A few months down the line,the story will probably be used to further bolster Jadavpur's fearsome reputation.
Maybe nothing will happen...maybe a small thing here or there of no consequence will change at the university.But what fills me up with regret is that we shall chant with glee next year,to our newly admitted juniors,that the prize of the best ragging in 2008 went to Jadavpur University.And life shall go on.

Delhi takes a step forward

Now that we have established the fact that our holiday is over,its time for introduction.I am Dhrubo and I am afraid you will have to put up with me till the time I get fired.
Its admission time at most universities in and around India and that consequently means its overdrive for people with a conscience and a sane mind.
It is indeed pleasing to note that India's best known and most popular university,the renowned University of Delhi has come down hard on ragging,even if only on paper.Known even a few years ago as a hub of the ragging menace,D.U has truly turned a corner...as The Times Of India and a number of newspapers report,it seems the dark clouds hovering over some of India's best educational institutions are now finally dispelled.And this doesn't seem like a false dawn anymore.If even a fraction of the reports bear the stamp of reality,it is but welcome change for the millions who throng the national capital with dreams in their eyes and hope in their hearts.

A particular paragraph caught my eye the other day..."

Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) will also organise an anti-ragging rally to be flagged off by DCP (north) Devesh Srivastava from the DUSU office on the North Campus. Before that DUSU will welcome freshers with chocolates and flowers and a sandalwood tilak around 9 am."(The Times of India(Delhi edition),17th July) What seems amazing about the news item above is the involvement of the student union.I was impressed when the D.U.S.U implemented a voluntary ban on on-smoking campus...the result was before my eyes at S.R.C.C. this January.One can only hope that even if the involvement is a publicity exercise and a bit over the top,it will usher in change long overdue.

We are back

This was a long long break that we had taken.But the great news is that we are back;and back with a bang.People with a conscience,start reading the blog.It might just be the best thing you do all day!
I know its the best thing I have done all day.

CET incident: Police record statements

CET incident: Police record statements
Saturday February 2 2008 09:28 IST

SHANGUMUGHAM Assistant Commissioner (AC) P. Reghunath has started a probe into the alleged manhandling of a fourth-semester student of the College of Engineering Thiruvananthapuram (CET) by senior students.

A team led by the AC inspected the room in the college where fourth-semester student Arjun was locked-up and harassed for four days from January 16. He also recorded the statement of the victim and the others concerned.

The police are of the view that since the victim was a fourth-semester student, the incident could not be considered as ragging, but only as atrocity. Meanwhile, the victim who was admitted to the Medical College Hospital here told reporters that there was negligence on the part of the police in probing the case. He alleged that he was assaulted by final year students and SFI activists Nikhil Nambiar, Jith James and Jithu D.

The victim’s parents have also approached the State Human Rights Commission. The All-India Democratic Students’ Organisation has also alleged that the police and the authorities concerned were trying to protect the accused SFI activists.

In another development, SFI activists staged a dharna at the college demanding action against Arjun in the wake of the complaints by first-semester students that Arjun had ragged them. The enquiry commission appointed by the college is yet to complete the probe.

Ragging a violation of human rights

Ragging a violation of human rights
Sunday February 3 2008 06:14 IST

THRISSUR: Ragging is a serious violation of human rights, said Health Secretary Usha Titus.

Presenting a paper on ''Challenges faced by medical fraternity'' organised by Jubilee Mission Medical College here on Saturday, she said that even in foreign countries ragging of the sort found in our country was unheard of.

She said that it was the fundamental responsibility of the doctor to give primary care to his patients. Over-specialisation and compartmentalisation were detrimental to patients.

District Collector M Beena presided over the function. Jubilee Mission Medical College principal Dr V K Ramankutty, director Fr Dr Francis Alapatt and college union chairman A Ahmed also spoke.

Teen fires air gun at mates

Teen fires air gun at mates
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Bangalore, Feb. 3: A 16-year-old fired at two of his classmates from an air gun and injured them, apparently as revenge for ragging.

Ashok (name changed), who had been practising shooting on his first-floor terrace for days, waited for Charan Kumar, 15, and Arun Kumar, 16, to come into view near the house on their way home yesterday afternoon before firing twice.

The pellets hit Charan on his forearm and Arun on his leg. Passers-by called a nearby police patrol vehicle and rushed the boys to Victoria Hospital, not far from the shooting scene in the middle-class Girinagar area. The boys were sent home after surgery to remove the pellets.

The incident comes less than two months after two Class VIII students shot dead a classmate who they said had been tormenting them at a Gurgaon school.

In Bangalore, too, there were warning signs. Ashok, said to be a bright Class X student, was allegedly teased often by a bunch of boys led by Arun. A fortnight ago, teachers at Swami Vivekananda School had to intervene when the boys got into a scuffle.

None of the parents had complained till last night, prompting police to lodge a suo motu case and book Ashok under the juvenile act. He will be produced before the juvenile justice board on Monday, officers said.

Charan’s father R.C. Kumar said he did not file a complaint as it involved his son’s classmate and board exams are due in March.

The police said they would question Ashok’s father, whom they did not name, for presenting his son with the air gun on his birthday recently. The boy had claimed initially that the gun belonged to his father but later admitted it was a gift. No licences are needed for air guns. It is rare for anyone to be killed by an air gun pellet.

Pledge to weed out social ills

Guwahati, Dec. 23: Students of Guwahati’s 10 leading colleges today resolved to put up a joint fight against bandh culture, ragging, private tuition and drug abuse.

A resolution to this effect was taken at a meeting organised by the Assam unit of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) at Sudmerson Hall of Cotton College this afternoon.

The NSUI, the students’ wing of the Congress, also felicitated the office-bearers of the students’ unions of the colleges.

“Besides felicitating the students’ representatives, the NSUI organised a discussion on the four relevant issues. The participants exchanged views on the adverse effect of the ills plaguing society. At the end of the meeting, the representatives of the 10 colleges agreed to adopt a resolution,” the president of the state unit of the NSUI, Bibhuti Bhusan Borthakur, said.

“Students affected by bandhs, ragging, private tuition and addiction to drugs must unite to fight the social malaise.”

The representatives resolved to organise a series of awareness campaigns and meetings in their colleges from next month on the issues, particularly the bandh culture and drug addiction.

There will be interaction sessions between teachers and students to check private tuition.

Efforts will be made to strengthen anti-ragging cells and committees of the colleges to prevent incidents of ragging. The meeting adopted a resolution to constitute a co-ordination committee by the NSUI to keep in touch with the colleges for effective implementation of the initiatives planned to solve the problems.

“It is high time the student community raises its voice against the bandh culture. There are so many organisations which call bandhs at the drop of a hat,” the vice-president of the Cotton College Union Society, Munin Bora, said.

“Students are the worst-affected by the bandh culture. We also have to fight against drug addiction. Many students are ruining their brilliant careers after taking to drugs. The NSUI deserves praise for uniting different colleges to fight against the problems,” Bora said.

Drug abuse has not only compounded the problem of AIDS but also taken a heavy toll on the physical and mental health of the youths.

Students’ representatives from Cotton College, B. Borooah College, J.B. Law College, Handique Girls’ College, Pandu College, Pragjyotish College, Guwahati College, Dispur College, Lalit Chandra Bharali College and College of Veterinary Science attended today’s meeting.

Ragging: Test identification parade sought

THRISSUR: The five senior students of the Kerala Agricultural University’s Veterinary College, who were accused of ragging a first-year student of the college, have filed a petition in the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court here on Wednesday pleading the court to direct the inquiry officer to conduct a test identification parade.

The accused students, who were present in the court, expressed their readiness to present themselves before the authorities concerned for the test identification parade.

The students alleged that merely on the suspicion of their involvement in the case, the police are harassing them. The case will come up for hearing on Thursday.

Two-year jail term for ragging

Two-year jail term for ragging

LUCKNOW: Students indulging in ragging in educational institutions should remain prepared to serve a jail sentence of two years as the UP government is all set to make it a cognizable offence. A draft bill related to it was approved by the state cabinet presided by Chief Minister Mayawati on Monday.

Briefing reporters of the decisions taken in the cabinet meeting, cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said that the chief minister had taken a serious not of ragging at educational institutions. Considering it to be a social evil, the cabinet approved a draft bill 'Ragging-2007', to be presented in the Assembly session beginning from Tuesday, said Singh.

He said that in the draft bill a provision has been made wherein a student, his parents or guardian can lodge a complaint with the head of the institution if the student is subjected to ragging. Upon receiving the complaint, the head of the institution will have to inquire the matter within seven days and if the complaint is prima facie found to be correct, students involved in the act (ragging) would immediately be debarred from the institution. Thereafter a case would be registered with the police for further action. If no prima facie evidence is found in the complaint, head of institution would inform about the facts to the complainant in writing.

Ragging jail plan

Ragging jail plan
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Lucknow, Dec. 3: The Mayavati cabinet today approved a proposal for a two-year jail term for ragging offenders in educational institutions.

The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Ragging Bill, 2007, is expected to be tabled in the Assembly during its special session beginning tomorrow. It draws heavily from a similar act in Maharashtra but has safeguards against its possible abuse.

If passed, the act will come into force by early next year in 15 engineering colleges run by the state and the central government, 21 universities and the 300-odd government-affiliated undergraduate and medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh.

The act will also be in force in the nearly 1,200 private institutions, education department officers said.

The Assembly had earlier this year set up a seven-member committee to recommend measures to curb ragging, which has turned into a recurring menace in the state.

The latest incident was on October 15, when an engineering student of a government polytechnic institute in Pratapgarh committed suicide by consuming poison in his hostel room, police sources said.

“The anti-ragging law has become an imperative in view of the increasing incidents of ragging in educational institutions,” cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh said.

The proposed act makes it mandatory for the head of an institution to probe a complaint within seven days of it being lodged and recommend penal action to the nearest police station. If he fails to do so, it would be treated as complicity and he might be liable for punitive action, Singh said.

Govt set to introduce anti-ragging bill

Govt set to introduce anti-ragging bill

Lucknow, December 3 The state government has decided to introduce an anti-ragging bill soon, said state Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh today.
While talking about the upcoming bill at a press conference on Monday, Singh said, “The bill will have punitive measures, including imprisonment, monetary fine for students indulging in ragging.”

He added, “The bill will have a provision for two years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 for students involved in ragging.”

“Those accused of ragging will get ample time to prove their point. Within 30 days from the date of the registration of the complaint, the accused can prove their point before the divisional commissioners,” he further said.

Meanwhile, head of educational institutions, academicians and students of Uttar Pradesh hailed the state government’s initiative to counter ragging.

“The anti-ragging bill will definitely act as a deterrent for those senior students who physically or physiologically abuse their juniors,” said Lucknow University Vice-Chancellor Prof Ram Prakash Singh.

The V-C added that in the last few days, he has received several complaints of ragging from different hostels of the varsity. “Taking strict cognisance of these complaints, we will soon conduct raids in these hostels,” he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, Dr A N Singh, associated with LU’s social work department, said, “The move was long overdue as it will help weeding out the social menace from educational institutions.”

Appreciating the state government’s move, Mudit Kumar, a mass communication student from Lucknow University, said, “The anti-ragging bill will allay the ragging fears of junior students to a considerable extent.”

UP adopts Bill, 2-yr jail term for ragging

UP adopts Bill, 2-yr jail term for ragging

LUCKNOW: In a significant move to curb ragging in educational institutions, the Mayawati government on Thursday adopted a Bill in the state assembly making provisions for two-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 for offenders.

The Bill was tabled in the House by parliamentary affairs minister Lalji Verma and passed by a voice vote without any debate. Another important provision made in the bill - UP Ban On Ragging In Educational Institutions Bill, 2007 - is that the offenders would not be able to get admission in any institution for a period of five years.

It, however, gives an opportunity to the students to appeal within 30 days against their expulsion before a commissioner, whose decision in the matter would be final.

The Bill also says in case of written complaints by students, their parents or guardians and teachers, the head of the institution should probe the charges within a week. It authorises the institution head to expel the offenders, if found guilty, within a week and file a complaint with the police. The head of the institution could be punished if he fails to take any action.

The Bill underlines the government's concern over the increasing incidents of ragging in different institutions in UP in the recent past.

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.

Four Lucknow University students suspended for ragging

Four Lucknow University students suspended for ragging

Four students of Lucknow University have been suspended and FIRs lodged against them for allegedly ragging juniors and threatening them with dire consequences if they failed to obey their diktats.

Acting on a complaint of BA first year students, the LU Proctorial Board suspended the four second year students-- Mani Singh, Mritunjay Singh, Prem Singh and Bhanu Pratap and lodged FIRs against them on Tuesday, university sources said on Wednesday.

Juniors had alleged last week that the four used to assign them work with the threat that those who failed to do it would be made to urinate on heaters or singed with cigarette butts.

Both the accused and complainant are residents of Acharya Narendra Dev hostel of LU.

Though FIRs have been lodged against the accused, the university authorities have insitituted an inquiry to check the veracity of the charges, LU Proctor AN Singh said.

Ragging accused create ruckus

Ragging accused create ruckus

LUCKNOW: Just about the time on Thursday when Vidhan Sabha was giving final shape to the anti-ragging Act, a group of student leaders in Lucknow University staged a protest against a senior professor who was about to take action against those alleged of ragging the junior students.

The high voltage drama unfolded on the LU campus in the afternoon when some of the student leaders alleged chief provost and director of Academic Staff College Prof Nishi Pandey of misbehaving with a student Digvijay Singh while he was on his way to the Department of Linguistics in which is enrolled.

Prof Pandey, however, shrugged off the charges. Instead, she said, Digvijay "deliberately" came in between the conversation she was having with a couple of students of BA (II) whose name had figured in the list of those involved in ragging of juniors. According to the version given by Prof Pandey to media, she along with proctor AN Singh had definite information that some of the students in Acharya Narendra Dev hostel had indulged in ragging of first-year students. In fact, she charged, ragging was being done in the presence of some students leaders in room number 105, 106 and 126.

It was following this that the LU administration had given a notice to the occupants of these three rooms. Occupant of room number 105, Sandeep Kumar, was, however, out of station. It was thus occupants of room number 106 and 126, Ranvijay Singh and Mrityunjay Yadav, respectively, who had gone to meet Prof Pandey. They even gave an application to the chief provost claiming that they were not involved in any kind of ragging. It was while they were on way to Prof Pandey's office that they were intercepted by a student, Maan Singh, a student of III rd semester, Criminology. Both Digvijay and Mrityunjay, confirmed this to the media.

Maan Singh, according to the duo, said that he would get the matter solved with the chief provost. The two, however, "refused the help" offered by Singh. Maan Singh soon left.

"But then came in this boy Ranvijay, and he stood close to us. I asked him to show his ID card and leave. But he started misbehaving. I was thus forced to deposit his ID," Prof Nishi said.

It was then Ranvijay started shouting and called upon students like Abhishek Mishra alias 'Baba', who claims himself to be a student leader. Incidentally, Ranvijay, Maan Singh and Baba had been arrested by police on September 9 on charges of rowdyism inside the university premises. Maan Singh, later talking to media, admitted this.

The student leaders soon gathered around the Academic Staff College, sat on a dharna and started raising slogans against the chief provost, who then called in the police. Ranvijay, who had occupied the centrestage by then, insisted that it was the chief provost who misbehaved and hurled abuses.

Proctor AN Singh said that such rowdyism would not be tolerated at any cost. "We would soon take some serious action which would also include getting an FIR lodged against all such rowdy students," Singh said.

Incidentally, the agitation comes barely a month before when LU vice-chancellor Prof RP Singh - who dealt with rowdy students with an iron hand -is set to complete his term. Faculty members observed that the agitation was part of the rowdy student's larger game plan to influence the students with their "leadership" qualities.

Expulsion must for ragging, says SC

Expulsion must for ragging, says SC

NEW DELHI: Concerned over the tardy implementation of its previous orders, Supreme Court on Monday directed educational institutions to adopt a "zero tolerance" policy to ragging and expel students found guilty of maltreating freshers.

Laying down expulsion of offenders in ragging cases as the minimum punishment, the court said this was needed to end the menace that could lead to extreme torture and harassment and even loss of life.

The court took a stern view, ruling out lighter punishment like suspension, after many incidents came to light despite the SC order in May this year which banned ragging in colleges and universities on the basis of the Raghavan Committee recommendations.
Colleges have now been asked to put it on their prospectus that students found guilty of ragging would be expelled immediately.

The SC, in May, had warned students that if they harassed freshers physically or mentally, they would be liable to be booked by police, expelled from college and denied admission in future. But with ragging offences still regularly reported, the court felt it was time to get tougher.

SC widens ragging rod reach

SC widens ragging rod reach
OUR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi, Dec. 10: The Supreme Court today extended its anti-ragging rules to medical, nursing and dental colleges as well as government-run polytechnics across the country.

The apex court also noted that its strict “message” against ragging did not appear to have been driven home.

“It seems that the message to persons indulging in ragging has not achieved the desired results,” the court said after additional solicitor-general Gopal Subramanian drew its attention to 100-odd ragging cases reported in the print media during the current academic year.

All the media reports have been referred to the Raghavan committee, a Supreme Court-appointed panel to curb the menace.

The committee, headed by former CBI chief R.K. Raghavan, and the authorities of various universities will look into the reports and suggest action against the offenders.

The court directed the Raghavan committee to suggest ways to deal with those found guilty of ragging.

The apex court had in May this year issued several guidelines on ragging, including filing of an FIR by the institution concerned.

The court today directed all educational institutions to include in their admission prospectus a clause clearly stating that any student found ragging another would be expelled.

'Mention action against ragging in prospectus'

NEW DELHI: An SC bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and Aftab Alam on Monday concluded that its earlier orders on ragging had not been effective after it referred to a report submitted by amicus curiae and additional solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam detailing incidents since May.

Recognising that its warnings may now need more bite, the Bench directed all educational institutions to clearly mention in their admission prospectus that any student accused of ragging would be given a chance to explain his conduct, and if found guilty, be straightaway expelled from the institution.

In order to ensure that its instructions are taken with due seriousness, the SC asked the Medical Council of India, Dental Council of India and Nursing Council of India alongwith state governments and the Union agriculture ministry to implement recommendations of the Raghavan Committee to eliminate ragging in institutions. It specifically asked the committee to probe two cases — physical torture of a handicapped student and forcible administration of narcotic drugs on another — and report to the court.

The court had in May this year given a slew of stern directions to stamp out ragging in educational institutions,
including mandatory registration of FIRs against seniors if they were found guilty. The punishment should be "exemplary and justifiably harsh to stop recurrence of the ugly incidents", it had said.

protests continue in JU

Jammu, Dec 08 (NAK): While Vice Chancellor Jammu University Prof Amitab Mattoo assured fool-proof security arrangement in and around campus, the ongoing protest demonstrations in the Varsity continued for the third consecutive day today.

Students gathered outside the administrative block, for the third consecutive day today, and stage a protest demonstration. Raising slogans against the University authorities, the protestors were demanding complaints registered against some student leaders by the authorities.

The protestors burnt down effigy of VC and threatened that they will intensify the agitation in case the authorities failed to concede their demands.

Meanwhile, in an attempt to ease out the situation, Vice Chancellor Prof. Amitabh Mattoo today visited Nehru Hostel and Swami Vivekanand Hostel and assured the scholars and students that adequate security arrangements would made in hostels and campus premises.

Accompanied by senior officials of the campus, the VC announced that the 24 hours security would be placed in service in and around the hostel premises so as to ensure safety of the students.

“The security system of the University will be further strengthened with the help of the state police till deemed necessary," assured Vice Chancellor adding that those students indulging in unlawful activities and harassment of the students in the hostels will be dealt with iron hands and action against those will be initiated according to the law.

Vice Chancellor also assured the Scholars and students that action against the culprits will be initiated immediately after the submission of the inquiry report on Sunday.

Clashes broke out on Thursday after some outsiders barged inside one of the boy’s hostel and thrashed some students. The students alleged that they were regularly being harassed by their seniors on the name of ragging.

The situation turned ugly when on next day students entered into administrative block and broke furniture and other fixtures on the campus, while protesting against the failure of the authorities to provide security to students and hostel inmates.

UP Assembly adopts Bill on ragging

UP Assembly adopts Bill on ragging

Lucknow, (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Thursday adopted a Bill aimed at curbing ragging in educational institutions and which envisages two-year prison terms and fine of Rs 10,000 for offenders.

The Bill, which was earlier approved by the state cabinet, was tabled in the House by Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Lalji Verma, and was passed by a voice-vote without any debate.

The UP Ban on Ragging in Educational Institutions Bill 2007, provides for an imprisonment up to two-years and a fine of Rs 10,000 to offenders, who would not be able to get admission in any educational institution for a period of five years from the date of the offence.

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 institution should probe the charges within a week.

It provides that the institution head can expel the offenders, if found guilty, within a week, and file a complaint with the area police station. The head of the institution can also be punished if he fail to take action against the offenders.

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

Six students were expelled from Apeejay Institute of Technology in Greater Noida in October on ragging charges, while a student of Madan Mohan Malviya Engineering College in Gorakhpur committed suicide in September after allegedly being tortured by his seniors.


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Six students held for misbehaviour

Six students held for misbehaviour

LUCKNOW: As many as six student leaders of the Lucknow University were arrested on Friday on charges of vandalism. The development comes a day after LU authorities lodged a complaint against some of the student leaders for allegedly misbehaving with chief provost and director of Academic Staff College Nishi Pandey. The students were, however, released after being detained in the police lockup for nearly six hours.

The six students included Ranvijay Singh and Maan Singh. The duo was reportedly behind the entire drama which unfolded in front of Academic Staff College on Thursday when Ranvijay alleged Prof Pandey of misbehaving with him.

Significantly, Prof Pandey and proctor AN Singh have acted tough against the student leaders who were engaged in the ragging of their juniors in the university hostels. The two senior faculty members had surveyed some of the hostels and found some rooms where the junior students were reportedly roughed up by the seniors.

College prospectus must have expulsion warning on ragging: SC

College prospectus must have expulsion warning on ragging: SC

New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday directed that universities and colleges shall, henceforth, mention in their admission prospectus that students who indulge in ragging would be expelled from the institution.

A bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and Aftab Alam, also said that its guidelines for ensuring ban of ragging in universities/colleges, shall apply to colleges under the Medical Council of India (MCI), Dental Council of India; polytechnics and those institutes under the Ministry of Agriculture.

The apex court passed the directions after the amicus curiae (friend of court) and Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam sought such directions, as many incidents of ragging continued to be reported in the country despite its earlier directions for implementation of the Raghavan committee recommendations.

Moreover, he said, that there were misconceptions among authorities of medical colleges, polytechnics and institutions imparting education on agriculture that the anti-ragging rules were not applicable to them as they were under separate regulatory bodies.

The amicus curiae also mentioned two separate incidents of ragging in which a student was reportedly forced to consume narcotic substances and another physically-challenged student was subjected to ragging by his seniors.



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Jammu University students stage protest against ragging

Jammu University students stage protest against ragging
Vijay Kumar, 09 December 2007, Sunday

A GROUP of students, who were agitated over the repeated incidents of ragging, ransacked office complex of vice chancellor of Jammu University Prof Amitabh Mattoo last Thursday. They staged protest later outside his chamber demanding strict actions against those students involved in ragging incidents. According to the report, a group of students were ragged by senior students in one of the hostels in Jammu University campus. Junior students were reportedly thrashed, paraded naked and later humiliated by some of the senior students. While staging protest, the students were unhappy with the university authorities for not taking prompt action against students involved in incidents of ragging happened on Wednesday night.

Agitated students alleged that the incidents of ragging were going on inside the hostel for past several days and the issue was brought into the notice of the university authorities. “On Wednesday evening also when the incident took place we immediately contacted our hostel warden but he refused to come and informed us to meet him in the morning”, students peeved over the delayed response told media persons outside the VC chamber amid chanting slogans loudly.

The victimized students alleged that they brought the matter into the notice of the university authorities early in the morning, yet they failed to take any action against the culprits. Angry over the poor response of the authorities, the students assembled outside the main gate of the administrative block and smashed windowpanes, flowerpots and wall paintings. Later, they staged protest outside the VC chamber and chanted slogans demanding action against the students responsible for the act.

University authorities reportedly made several attempts to pacify the agitating students but went in vain. Groups of students also clashed with each other exchanging hot words outside VC’s office trading charges against each other. Dean student welfare PS Pathania told media that university administration has already identified those students who were behind ragging incidents. “We have informed local police authorities and appropriate action will be taken against them soon, he added. Superintendent of Police, who arrived on the spot, said that University administration have been asked to submit a written complain against the students so that they can register an FIR for further action in this case.

No case of ragging reported from Punjab colleges

CHANDIGARH: Not a single case of ragging was reported in any Government and Private Medical/ Nursing/Ayurvedic/Homeopathic and any Para-medical teaching institute in the Punjab State during a current academic year, due to strict vigilance measures initiated by the Punjab Government.

Stating this here Tuesday Tikshan Sud, Medical Education & Research Minister said that the Punjab Medical Education Department had conducted a detailed exercise to control ragging in the State by involving faculty, parents as well as students in this campaign. He said that the department today circulated the latest judgment of Supreme Court on ragging to all Medial Institutes in the State and they have been directed to include the clause of 'expulsion of students involved in ragging from the institute', in the prospectus of next academic year.

Sud said that Medical Superintendent in each institute has been designated as Nodal Officer to check ragging and he would be held accountable in any case of ragging reported in their respective institute.

The Medical Education Minister said that the Punjab Government was committed to check the practice of ragging in the State and the Minister solicited the co-operation all strata of society in this campaign of Punjab Government.

Ragging cry puts off Besu exam

Ragging cry puts off Besu exam
A STAFF REPORTER

Postgraduate students of Bengal Engineering and Science University (Besu) boycotted semester exams that were to start on Tuesday to protest the alleged ragging of an undergraduate student.

Besu postponed the exams for an indefinite period. On Monday, the undergraduate exams were indefinitely postponed following a boycott by students.

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) alleged that Afroz Ahmed, a second-year student of information technology, had been ragged in his hostel by Independent Consolidation (IC) supporters late on Monday. The IC, however, denied the charge, saying Afroz was involved in assaulting its supporters.

Vice-chancellor Nikhil Ranjan Banerjea said: “The allegation has been sent to the disciplinary committee.”

'Check ragging at any cost'

'Check ragging at any cost'
Posted at Monday, 10 December 2007 21:12 IST

New Delhi, Dec 10: The Supreme Court on Monday said that measures should be taken to curb incidents of ragging in colleges and universities.
The apex court directed that ragging should be curbed at any cost. Besides general colleges, those colleges which grant professional degrees should also check incidents of ragging, it ruled.
The court also said that the recommendation of Raghavan Committee, looking into the issue of ragging in educational institutions, must be implemented.
The six-member committee is headed by former CBI Director R. K. Raghavan.

Apex court includes private colleges in anti-ragging ambit

Apex court includes private colleges in anti-ragging ambit

New Delhi, Dec 10 - Coming down heavily on ragging in colleges, the Supreme Court Monday said its directions issued in May on the menace should be extended to include private, unaided colleges and professional educational institutes as well.

A bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and Aftab Alam said that ragging is plaguing not merely government educational institutions but private educational institutions too and there is no reason why it should be not curbed.

It asked the central and state governments to implement the court's earlier directions to arrest the menace of ragging in private educational institutions, including professional colleges on medicine, engineering, dental science, management, pharmacy and agriculture.

The court directed bodies like the Medical Council of India, Dental Council of India and Bar Council of India to suggest guidelines to it to curtail ragging of junior students by seniors.

It asked educational institutions to include a condition and warning in their admission forms saying that any student found indulging in ragging would be expelled after being given a chance to explain his act.

The bench lambasted the government saying that its earlier directions to do away with ragging did not appear to have made any dent in the situation owing to lack of action by the government.

It asked Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanian, who is assisting the court in the matter as amicus curie, to file a fresh status report on its earlier directions for implementation of the Ragahvan Committee report to check ragging in educational institutions.

In its directions in May, the court had said ragging, which sometimes involves violence, abuse and even sexual harassment, is unacceptable and deserves severe punishment.