GS2/GS1/GS4
Syllabus: Governance/ Indian Society/Ethics
Source: TH
Context: Recent incidents, including the death of a 17-year-old at Jadavpur University and the brutalization of a PSG College of Technology student in Tamil Nadu, highlight the systemic gaps allowing this vicious cycle of Ragging to continue.
What is Ragging?
Ragging refers to the practice of subjecting new students to humiliating or abusive behaviour as a way of initiating them into a group or community. It can take many forms, including physical and emotional abuse, harassment, bullying, and even sexual assault.
Data on caste discrimination in colleges:
A parliamentary panel found rampant caste bias within Indian colleges and universities.
Previous cases:
| Location | Case | Legislation and Outcome |
| TAMIL NADU | Pon Navarasu | Tamil Nadu enacted the country’s first anti-ragging legislation in 1997 based on this case. |
| Navarasu, son of the then vice-chancellor of the University of Madras, was murdered during a ragging session. | ||
| John David, a senior student, confessed to the crime, surrendering to judicial custody. | ||
| Navarasu was assaulted, forced to strip, lick David’s footwear, and violently beaten to death when he refused. | ||
| MAHARASHTRA | Payal Tadvi | Payal Tadvi, a second-year MD student at Mumbai’s TN Topivala National Medical College (TNMC), faced caste discrimination and harassment within the campus. |
| She belonged to the Adivasi Tadvi Bhil community and was found dead in Mumbai. |
Laws against ragging in India:
| Measures | Description |
| Judicial Measures | In 2001, the Supreme Court of India banned ragging nationwide and mandated the creation of proctoral committees within educational institutions for active monitoring and addressing ragging issues. |
| Severe incidents are recommended to be reported to the police. | |
| Legal Measures | Ragging cases can be addressed under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 339 and 340 dealing with wrongful restraint and confinement. |
| Some states, such as TN, Kerala and Maharashtra, have enacted specific anti-ragging laws, providing a robust legal framework at the state level. | |
| UGC Measures | The University Grants Commission (UGC) issued comprehensive guidelines in 2009, requiring universities to ensure students sign anti-ragging undertakings. |
| The guidelines also mandate the establishment of vigilant committees comprising staff and senior students. | |
| The UGC supports an anti-ragging helpline, available in 12 languages, and maintains a dedicated website for reporting and tracking ragging incidents. | |
| Other Measures | The 2007 R.K. Raghavan Committee report described ragging as psychopathic behaviour and recommended both its prohibition and the implementation of preventive measures, influencing the UGC’s 2006 guidelines. |
| The Unny Committee’s recommendations included a range of punishments for ragging, from monetary fines to imprisonment, reinforcing the seriousness of the issue. |
Gaps in Anti-Ragging System:
| Gaps | Description |
| Lack of Effective Prevention | State laws predominantly focus on prohibiting ragging rather than addressing its root causes and behaviours, resulting in a failure to prevent incidents of ragging. |
| Poor Enforcement | Despite the existence of guidelines, such as the UGC’s 2009 regulations, there is a lack of strict implementation by governments and authorities, contributing to unsafe campus environments. |
| Insufficient Institutional effort | Educational institutions often limit their anti-ragging efforts to formalities, such as displaying ‘no-ragging’ notices and obtaining undertakings, which may not effectively deter ragging. |
To address the issue of ragging, it is imperative to strengthen institutional accountability by ensuring educational institutions actively prevent such incidents through rigorous monitoring and the strict enforcement of anti-ragging policies. Creating supportive environments is crucial, with an emphasis on making teachers and hostel wardens easily approachable for students facing ragging, ensuring immediate assistance for victims. Additionally, engaging multiple stakeholders, including students, teachers, and parents, in the anti-ragging campaign is essential, fostering a comprehensive, community-wide effort against ragging.
Ethical issues associated with ragging:
- Violation of human dignity
- Infringement of individual rights
- Promotion of unhealthy behaviour
- Compromise of academic standards
- The legal and moral responsibility of educational institutions
Solutions:
- Strict rules and regulations
- Awareness campaigns
- Counselling and support
- Orientation programs
- Monitoring and surveillance
Mains links:
Why ragging in schools and colleges is considered an issue of serious concern? Comment. (10M)
