Ragging is a criminal offence: SC

May 16: Citing ragging as a serious offence, the Supreme Court today directed all educational institutions to register criminal cases against those found to engage in the act. This important order came after a series of serious cases including some deaths across the country.

The apex court has also ruled to register FIR in any such cases and also directed the centre and state government to set up anti-ragging committee and squads in every education institutions to check this practice. The order would be implemented from this year.

Ragging is really getting serious in almost all institutions especially in all professional institutes and hostels. It was a serious concern both in administrative and academic authorities. The SC has also ordered to follow strictly the guidelines submitted by the RK Raghavan Committee.

This Central Anti Ragging Committee was set up by the HRD ministry last February. After visiting some of the major educational institution across the country, the committee submitted its report. The report has also made it clear that strict action will be taken against those authorities in educational institution where incidents of ragging will be reported.

Ragging is really getting serious these days in some cases. It is common in all college or higher educational institution in the form of a general introduction or a bit singing and dancing acts. But if that turns into physical or mental tortures then yes that is a criminal offence and this order of the court is welcome and they should be punished.

Principals in all schools and colleges should prepare their own guidelines in checking ragging and also should announce it at the start of the session. It is also very important to study different nature of ragging and the cause for its seriousness in medical and engineering colleges.