RAGGING: A scourge on campus life

Ragging is a harmful and often traumatic experience for newcomers in colleges and schools. It involves various forms of harassment, ranging from verbal insults (which may be sexual, sarcastic or humiliating) to physical abuse and forced labour for seniors. This practice not only affects the dignity and mental well-being of students but also violates human rights.

The Raghavan Committee Report (2007)

In response to growing concerns, the Supreme Court directed the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to take action. The ministry appointed the Raghavan Committee, led by ex-CBI chief RK Raghavan, to investigate and suggest reforms.

The committee’s findings were eye-opening:

• Ragging is a serious human rights violation
• Supreme Court's 2001 guidelines were not effectively implemented by colleges
• Awareness about ragging should extend beyond freshers to seniors, teachers, and society at large
• A strong, uniform anti-ragging law is necessary
• Colleges should conduct surprise checks and anonymous surveys to encourage reporting
• Anti-ragging cells should be established at the central, state, and college levels
• A toll-free helpline should be set up for victims to seek help
• The burden of proving innocence should be on the accused, not the victim
• NCERT textbooks should include chapters on anti-ragging
• Psychological counseling on human rights and anti-ragging should be introduced at the senior secondary level
• Interactive sessions between juniors and seniors must be held in the presence of faculty members to foster healthy interactions
• Many cases of ragging happen outside the campus in private accommodations. These hostels should be registered with the local police, and their management should be held accountable
• A lack of extracurricular activities contributes to ragging incidents; colleges should promote such activities
• College faculty should actively discourage ragging and not suppress complaints
• Anti-ragging monitoring cells should be established at multiple levels to ensure accountability
• Educational institutions should be held responsible, and anti-ragging measures should be a factor in their accreditation by central regulatory bodies
• Strict punishment should be given to those found guilty of ragging to set an example and deter others.

Supreme Court’s 2001 order

The Supreme Court ruled that if a student reports ragging, the college must immediately file an FIR with the police. This directive was aimed at ensuring prompt action and accountability.

The 2009 Aman Kachroo Case: A wake-up call

Aman Kachroo, a first-year medical student in Himachal Pradesh, lost his life after being brutally beaten by drunk senior students. The perpetrators were convicted under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and sentenced to four years in prison. Shockingly, they were released seven months early in 2012 for good behavior, highlighting the need for stricter punishment and legal reforms.

A call for change

Ragging must be eliminated through legal enforcement, awareness, and institutional responsibility. Stricter laws, rigorous monitoring, and social reforms are crucial in ensuring that educational institutions remain places of learning, growth, and safety rather than fear and humiliation. Every student has the right to a respectful and secure academic environment, free from the menace of ragging.