Latest news with #ProhibitionofRagging(Kerala)Act
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Time of India
Anti-ragging Act: Need two months to finalise draft amendments, Kerala HC told
Kochi: The state govt has informed high court that it will take two months to finalise the draft amendments to the Prohibition of Ragging (Kerala) Act and Rules. 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo 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.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
Consider court orders while framing rules of anti-ragging Act: HC
Kochi: High court has instructed the working group constituted to draft comprehensive rules for the effective implementation of the Prohibition of Ragging (Kerala) Act to take into account the court's judgments and orders, as well as the UGC regulations on the matter. The bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice C Jayachandran issued the directive while hearing a PIL filed by the Kerala Legal Services Authority (KeLSA), seeking a directive to the govt to reassess the Act and frame rules to ensure the eradication of ragging. During hearing on Thursday, minutes of the working group meeting, chaired by the additional chief secretary of the home department, were submitted. The state requested an additional month for the working group to finalise the draft rules, and the court granted the request. The bench also observed that many of the cases that come before the court on the criminal side arise due to gaps in the existing statutes, which have sometimes benefited the accused and noted the need to address these issues. HC directed the state to submit the draft rules by June 22 and adjourned the petition to July 3. KeLSA filed the PIL in response to a ragging incident at the Govt College of Nursing in Kottayam, where junior students were reportedly subjected to severe physical abuse, including having dumbbells tied to their private parts.
