‘Strict rules to deal with ragging menace’
UGC regulations have the backing of law
The Government on Friday said it will follow a zero-tolerance policy towards ragging in institutions of higher education and tough regulations under the law have been put in place to deal with the menace.
“The policy of the government shall be zero tolerance for anti-social activities,” HRD Minister Kapil Sibal told the Rajya Sabha replying to a short duration discussion on the increasing incidents of ragging in the country.
Responding to some members’ demand for a national law, he said that the UGC regulations have the backing of law which will have to be implemented by the universities and colleges.
Sibal said the stringent measures which could be enforced include rustication of a student, withholding of scholarship, derecognition of institution, debarring a student from appearing in any test and stopping of grant to the institution.
He said previously, the mindset was glossing over the issue and only trying to persuade children not to do ragging. “That mindset has changed” and now the focus is on taking strict measures to prevent such incidents, he said.
The HRD Ministry has written to the Medical Council of India, Dental Council of India, Indian Nursing Council and the All India Council of Technical Education to adopt the UGC regulations against ragging, he said. “I am sure all these regulations will be adopted and this menace will be put to an end,” he said.
Referring to occurrence of ragging incidents in schools, Sibal said that regulations similar to UGC rules should be enacted for school system. “We will be proceeding in this direction”, he said.
Observing that the government was firm in dealing with the menace, Sibal said that unlike in the past when the precincts of universities and colleges were not considered for application of normal laws, no exception would be made under the new regulations.
“Previously what happened within an educational institution was something which should not be taken as a criminal activity.... in the event of violation (now), he (offender) will have to be prosecuted” similar to any other law, he said.
Teething troubles
Sibal said a ragging helpline which was started earlier this month has received 77 complaints of which 63 have been forwarded to universities and colleges for action. Though the helpline has been passing through teething troubles, it will aim to attend to complaints within 15 minutes of reporting.
The minister said the UGC regulations are a “delegated legislation” (under the UGC Act) and have to be strictly enforced by institutions and universities. Any violation could land them in court, he said. These regulations are in conformity with the guidelines of the Supreme Court.
Besides, the measures have to be overseen by anti-ragging squads and committees at college, district and state levels, the minister said.
