Kerala Minister hints at amendment to ragging Act with stricter provisions

Higher Education Minister R. Bindu
| Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT

The Kerala government may explore amending the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1998, by including stricter provisions, Minister for Higher Education R. Bindu has said. The Act currently lays down imprisonment up to two years and a fine up to ₹10,000.

There had been demands to amend the Act, the Minister said.

She was replying to a calling attention motion by N. Samsudheen, MLA, on the menace of ragging on college campuses, in the Kerala Assembly on Monday.

Referring to instances of brutal ragging of a student at Government College of Nursing, Kottayam; death of J.S. Sidharthan at Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, a year ago; and a recent incident at Government College, Karyavattom, the MLA alleged that the anti-ragging laws in the State lacked teeth. Moreover, cyberattacks did not come under its purview. Conviction could be achieved in only one case under the Act concerned, he alleged.

The Minister said anti-ragging committees had been formed in all higher education institutions as per the UGC Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009.

These committees comprised select teachers of an institution, students, and parent-teacher association members, and station house officer of the police. Anti-ragging squads were also in place.

The State Police Chief had also given clear directions to district police chiefs on curbing ragging as per a Supreme Court circular.

Steps are taken by the police on the basis of a report of the anti-ragging committee when complaints of ragging are received by head of an educational institution. Stringent action, including suspension, is taken against the accused in ragging cases on the basis of the committee report.

In the case of ragging at Government College of Nursing, Kottayam, the accused had been arrested and produced in court. Their admission too had been cancelled by the Director of Medical Education too. The Principal who had the charge of warden and an assistant professor who had the charge of assistant warden had been suspended from service, and caretaker and security staff removed from their post. Directions had been given to take disciplinary action against teacher who had failed to discharge their duty as part of the anti-ragging squad. No negligence had been shown by the government or the university in taking action against employees who had failed to prevent ragging, the Minister clarified.

In the case of Sidharthan’s ragging, 20 arrests had been made and action taken. The case investigation has been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation on the request of Sidharthan’s parents.

On the ragging complaint of a student at Karyavattom, the Kazhakuttam police had arrested seven students and was taking legal action against them.

The Minister said programmes were held in educational institutions to sensitise students to the negative impacts of ragging and make them aware of anti-ragging laws by the police and ant-ragging cell. Display boards banning ragging were displayed. Students were also asked to give an undertaking at the time of taking admission that they would not participate in ragging or support it and maintained in college offices. These had to be signed by parents too.

The Minister said debarring students accused of ragging from examinations could be considered if evidence found against them was proven true.