In order to make colleges comply to the guidelines on ragging, University Grants Commission (UGC) has directed colleges to furnish details on constitution of anti-ragging committee and squads in their institutions. However, in case of false information, the colleges would be penalised.

The proforma sent by UGC comprises 13 questions and has been sent to all universities. The questions include constitution of anti-ragging squads and committees; conducting enquiries; possible actions against ragging m entioned in the prospectus; punishment meted out (suspension, rustication and expulsion); counselling for freshers and seniors and number of FIR cases lodged by the institutions.

 According to an AICTE official, if technical colleges found to have given false information and it comes to notice of the AICTE, then the officials will pay a surprise visit to the college.

“If they are found guilty, warning or disciplinary action would be taken. One of the actions suggested is reduction of seats,” the AICTE official added. Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) Registrar Dr S Vasanth Kumar said that stringent action would be taken against the colleges.

“The action could be to an extent of disaffiliation. If ragging is reported in any college, an enquiry will be conducted immediately. If the students are found guilty, they would be debarred and handed over to the police,” he added.

The proforma is framed based on the recommendations of Dr R K Raghavan’s Committee which was constituted by the HRD ministry on prevention in ragging in educational institutions.

Recently, the committee reviewed the progress made by UGC, AICTE and MCI and pointed out that the apex court has taken serious view on slow progress on the implementation of recommendations and stressed that all the universities including open universities should take measures as per the recommendations of the committee.

Recommendations
Some of the recommendations of the committee include forming of anti-ragging squads and committee, including action against ragging in prospectus and in other admission related documents; launching a programme on ragging menace and its consequences by both Central and State Government; counselling for freshers and seniors by professional counsellors and setting up of mentoring cell in each institution.The UGC has posted the proforma on its website and has requested the colleges to send their compliance report by November 28 in the prescribed format. In case, if they fail to do it, the court may direct the personal appearance of the university authorities, it stated.

Information
Vivesvaraya Technological University (VTU) has received information from most colleges, however, there are some colleges, which are yet to send the proforma.

“We have sent reminder to these colleges. We will send consolidated information to UGC,” said VTU registrar Prof M S Shivakumar. Further, he added that incidents of ragging reported in engineering colleges in Karnataka is almost nil except for a couple of stray incidents, which was sorted out by colleges.