SC issues directives on ragging

The Supreme Court on Friday issued string of suggestions and recommendations directing all States and Union Territories to set up a committee to consider and control the increasing cases of ragging in educational institutions and take up the service of a psychiatrist to provide counselling to students, who indulged in ragging, against the ills of ragging.

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A two-member Bench of Justices headed by Arijit Pasayat also asked to establish de-addiction centres at educational institutions to check increasing influence of boozing in universities and colleges.

This decision was taken in the backdrop of recommendations made by Raghvan Committee appointed by Supreme Court to examine in relation to the death of a Himachal Pradesh medical college student caused by ragging and a suicide attempt by a girl student of Andhra Pradesh agricultural engineering college, saying it has been proved that the prime cause of ragging in educational institutions is the use of alcohol.

The 19-year-old Aman Kachroo, student of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Himachal Pradesh, was beaten to death by his four seniors under the influence of liquor.

In Andhra Pradesh, a girl student from an Agricultural Engineering college had tried to commit suicide after five of her senior girl students forced her to dance naked in the name of ragging.

All State governments were also asked to give undertakings to the court that they would take steps in accordance with its directions.

The court also directed to set up a helpline for ragging victims, a proposal for which was submitted by the Ministry of Human resources and Development.

The Bench also asked the States to implement Raghvan Committee’s other recommendations such as registration of criminal complaint by the educational institution concerned against those found guilty of ragging and immediate suspension from the college or university despite pending inquiry.

Furthermore, the Court also directed the UGC to reduce or completely stop grant-in-aid to the government and government-aided educational institutions violating the directions of this court.