Anti-ragging Act: Need two months to finalise draft amendments, Kerala HC told
Director general of prosecution (DGP) T A Shaji made this submission before the bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice C Jayachandran in response to a petition by KeLSA, which sought a direction to the govt to reassess the Act and frame rules to ensure the effective eradication of ragging.
During the hearing, the UGC and KeLSA submitted their suggestions regarding the draft Act and proposed Rules. The UGC recommended, among other things, the inclusion of autonomous colleges, affiliated colleges, hostels and lodges in the definition clause; the inclusion of hostel wardens in the anti-ragging committee; and ensuring that the proposed administrative actions under the Rules align with the UGC Regulations, 2009.
KeLSA, in its suggestions, proposed changes to the definitions of 'ragging' and 'educational institutions.' They also recommended the inclusion of a provision for deemed abetment and the removal of the concept of 'freshers' from the draft. KeLSA clarified that deemed abetment would apply when the head of an educational institution or any responsible person fails to take timely and appropriate action upon receiving information or having knowledge of ragging, or wilfully conceals, suppresses, or fails to report such incidents.
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Such inaction or concealment, it said, should be treated as abetment of ragging and made punishable. KeLSA also suggested using 'any student' instead of 'freshers' in the draft so that protection against ragging applies not just to newly admitted students.
Additionally, KeLSA informed HC that two ragging incidents were recently reported in the state. One allegedly took place at a Govt Higher Secondary School in Kaniyambetta, Kalpetta, Wayanad, where a Plus One student was instructed by five other students to shave his beard and report to school accordingly. Though he complied, retaining only his moustache, he was allegedly physically assaulted later. The second incident occurred in Malappuram district, where a Class IX student was reportedly bullied and physically assaulted by a newly admitted Class X student, along with others.
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