Action Against Ragging

Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act 1999 which is an effect from 15th May, 1999 has the following provision for Action against Ragging:

1. Ragging within or outside of any educational is prohibited.

2. Whosoever directly or indirectly commits, participate in, abets, or propagates ragging within or outside any educational institution shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term up 2 years and/or penalty, which may extend to Two lakh Fifty Thousand rupees.

3. Any student convicted of an offence of ragging shall be dismissed from the educational institution fora period of five years from the date of order of such dismissal.

4. Whatever any student or guardian or teacher of an education institution complains, in writing, of ragging to the head of the educational institution, institution shall without prejudice to the foregoing provisions, within even days of the receipt of the complaint, enquire into matter mentioned in the complaint and if, prima focus, it is found true, suspend the student who is accused of the offence, and shall immediately forward the complaint to the police station having jurisdiction over the area in which the educational institution, it is found that there is no substance, prima facie, in the complaint received, he/she shall intimate the fact, in writing, to the complaint. The decision of the head of the educational institution, it is found that there is no substance, prima facie, in the complaint. The decision of the head of the educational institution shall be final.

   If the head of the educational institution fails or to act in the manner specified in the section "d" above when a complaint of ragging is made, fails or neglects to act such person shall be deemed to have abetted the offence and shall on conviction, be punished, as provided for in the section "b" above.

   If any student is found to indulge in ragging theft, smoking, consumption of liquor of drugs, or any other in disciplinary act or criminal offence, matter will be conveyed to the-concerned parents. Ther parents will have to meet Principal/Rector, who will exercise the right of debar the student depending on the seriousness of the offence. Student should note that "Ragging" is a punishable offence. Society will check the rooms in hostel and the luggage of the students "If any illegal things are found (like liquor, brown sugar, drugs, pornographic books, etc.) the society will have right to debar concerned student and a fine of Rs.500/- to 1000/- will also be charged.

UGG ANTI-RAGGING NORMS

What can be punished under ragging laws

Beside proposing punishments ragging from expulsion and debarring students from admission to any other institue rustication from 1-4 Semesters admission cancellation, debarring from examinations, Rs. 2,50,000/- fine, with holding result, expulsion from hostel and collective punishment for all those found involved in ragging, the UGC has gone a step ahead asking institutes to ensure that no ragging is carried out even in private lodges where students are staying and these registered with the local police.

Abetment; criminal conspiracy to ragging; unlawful assembly and rioting; violation of decency' in jury to body; wrongful restraint or confinement; assault; sexual offences or unnatural offences; extortion; criminal, trespass; offences against property; criminal intimidation will be considered 'punishable ingredients of ragging'.