Anti Ragging Act : Laws Against Ragging In India Explained
Dibrugarh University Ragging: Assam’s Dibrugarh University has rusticated up to 18 students for their alleged involvement in the Anand Sarma ragging case.
Dibrugarh University students stage a massive protest demanding justice for Anand Sharma. Dibrugarh University’s disciplinary action committee and the anti-ragging squad are meeting.
Also Read: Dibrugarh University Ragging: 18 Students Rusticated For Involvement
Ragging originated in the West as a form of social interaction between seniors and juniors in schools and colleges. However, at times, these interactions have become extremely brutal, inhumane, and anti-social.
Ragging is a form of crime that is destroying student life. It began as a lighthearted joke and evolved into a terrifying form over time.
It had progressed to the point where a law had to be enacted against it, and it is now classified as criminal activity. Ragging has taken the lives of many innocent students by torturing them mentally and physically.
According to a 2017 survey, approximately 40% of Indian students experienced some form of ragging and bullying, with medical and engineering colleges reporting the highest rates. These figures are shocking because they were obtained despite strict anti-ragging laws.
It has come to notice that a Dibrugarh University student is hurt in an alleged case of ragging. Close watch maintained & followup action coordinated with district admn. Efforts on to nab the accused, victim being provided medical care.
Appeal to students, say NO to Ragging.— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) November 27, 2022
Ragging was practiced in India long before independence. This was only done as a joke in English and Army colleges.
It had reached its zenith by the 1990s. Private medical and engineering colleges were opening in India at the time. During this time, ragging took on a terrifying new form. It had a negative impact in South India.
At this time, many student suicides were reported in South India. According to statistics, the highest number of ragging cases were discovered in Tamil Nadu in 1997.
Given the gravity of the situation, Tamil Nadu became the first state to outright prohibit ragging in 1997.
Definition of Ragging
Under laws in India, ragging is defined as:
(i) Any disorderly conduct by either by acts or words spoken, the effect of which is teasing, treating or handling with rudeness any other student;
(ii) Any rowdy or undisciplined activity, which causes annoyance, hardship or psychological harm;
(iii) Raise fear or apprehension thereof in the minds of junior
(iv) Asking the students to do an act or perform something, which such student will not do in ordinary course, which has the effect of causing shame or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of a junior student.
(V) Exploiting the services of a fresher or any other student for completing the academic tasks assigned to an individual or a group of students.
(VII) Any act of financial extortion or forceful expenditure burden put on a fresher or any other student by other students.
(VIII) Any act of physical abuse including all of its variants, viz., sexual abuse, homosexual assaults, stripping, and forcing obscene and lewd acts, gestures, causing bodily harm or any other danger to health or person.
Prohibition of Ragging
Ragging in any form is strictly prohibited
(a) within the Institute Campus including the Departments, Canteen, etc.,
(b) in Hostels, Messes, Canteens, Cafeteria, etc., and
(c) in Playgrounds, Transport Vehicles, etc.
Central Legislations
The following are the central laws that govern the practise of ragging in India:
- Indian Penal Code
- UGC Regulations On Curbing The Menace Of Ragging In Higher Educational Institutions, 2009
- Other institute-specific regulations.
Punishments under the Indian Penal Code against acts of Ragging:
Every instance of ragging or aiding and abetting ragging obligates the institution to file an FIR. The IPC contains provisions that allow a student to file an FIR at the nearest police station. These are the provisions:
294 – Obscene acts and songs
323 – punishment for voluntarily causing hurt
324 – voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon or means
325 – punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt
326 – voluntarily causing grievous hurt by a dangerous weapon
339 – Wrongful Restraint
340 – Wrongful Confinement
341 – Punishment for Wrongful Restraint
342 – Punishment for Wrongful Confinement
506 – Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder
Punishable Ingredients of Ragging
(i) Abetment to ragging
(ii) Criminal conspiracy to rag
(iii) Unlawful assembly and rioting while ragging
(iv) Violation of decency and morals through ragging
(v) Injury to body causing hurt or grievous hurt
(vi) Wrongful restraint
(vii) Wrongful confinement
(viii) Use of criminal force
(ix) Extortion
(x) Assault/sexual offences/Unnatural offences
(xi) Criminal intimidation
(xii) Offences against property
(xiii) Attempt to commit any or above of the offences
(xiv) Any offence flowing from the definition of ragging