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NATIONAL LAW INSTITUTE UNIVERSITY, Bhopal

ENGLISH - 3
PROJECT ON

RAGGING IN INDIA

SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:

PROF. Dr. MUKESH SRIVASTAVA RISHABH CHAWLA
ROLL NO.-2013BALLB03
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Contents
Acknowledgement..........................................3
INTRODUCTION..............................................4
Origin of Ragging................................................5
Meaning of Ragging.............................................6
Forms of Ragging................................................7
Myths Related to Ragging......................................8
Consequences of Ragging......................................9
Substantive Laws Prohibiting Ragging....................10
Preventive Ragging: The Landmark Supreme Court
Guidelines.......................................................11
RECENT CASES..............................................13
BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................15
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Acknowledgement

I would like to begin with acknowledging our Professor Dr. Mukesh Srivastav who gave us this

opportunity to work on a project work, giving us full autonomy to choose our topics as well as

guidance where ever needed.

I would also like to thank the director of the university and the administration who have given us

all the requisite facilities like library, wi-fi connection, computer lab, photo stat which make the

task much easier and efficient.

Also, I would like to extend my gratefulness to my batch mates and parents who have supported

me throughout in this Endeavour.

Rishabh Chawla

2013BALLB03
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INTRODUCTION

It has been rightly said that the end may not always justify the means. Behind the faade of

welcoming new students to college, ragging, in actuality, is a notorious practice wherein the

senior students get an excuse to harass their junior counterparts, and more often than not, make

them easy targets to satiate their own perverse sadistic pleasures. For any student who slogs day

and night to secure admission into a prestigious college, ragging can be his or her worst

nightmare come true. It would not be an exaggeration to say that, today, ragging has taken the

shape of a serious human rights violation with even the most respected and disciplined

educational institutes falling prey to it. Under the pretext of fun, a poor student is often assaulted,

sometimes even stripped and intimidated by his seniors and this ritualised torture leaves an

indelible impression on his mind. The chilling incident continues to haunt him throughout his

life, and he unknowingly develops various psychological disorders.

After experiencing the evil of ragging, a student develops a feeling of revenge for his 'unjustified

harassment' and derives pleasure in ragging his juniors on his turn. So the trend goes on and

students continue to suffer.

Those who surrender before their seniors are set free from the torment after going through a

series of inhuman acts, but those who refuse to follow their diktats are subjected to barbaric and

brutal treatment and are forced to urinate on high voltage heaters, take part in naked parades,

shave off their moustaches and beards, and stand upside down on their heads etc.

The situation sometimes turns so bad that it compels the ragging victim to commit suicide.
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Origin of Ragging

Today, ragging may have become deep rooted in the Indian educational set up, but many would

be surprised to know that ragging is originally a western concept. Ragging is supposed to have

its creation in certain European Universities where seniors played practical jokes at the time of

welcoming freshmen to the institutions. Gradually, the practice of ragging became popular

throughout the world. However, with time, ragging assumed obnoxious and harmful

connotations and was severely condemned. Today, almost all countries of the world have enacted

stern laws that ban ragging and it has been completely eradicated in countries such as Canada

and Japan. But sadly, India, which inherited ragging as a legacy from the British Raj, has not

been able to free itself from the clutches of this inhuman practice. Ragging is a form of abuse of

newcomers to educational institutions in several countries. It is similar to the American form,

known as hazing, but is much more severe. Legally speaking ragging is an act which causes, or is

likely to cause physical, psychological or physiological harm or apprehension or shame or

embarrassment to a student. It includes teasing, abusing or playing practical jokes or causing hurt

to any student or asking them to do any act, or perform anything which he/she would not, in the

ordinary course, be willing to do. It started in its mild form in the 8th century AD during the

Olympics in Greece. Later the armed forces of several countries and several student

organizations in Europe and the USA started practicing this ritual. During World War I ragging

underwent a massive transformation. Students who returned from the war and rejoined college

brought with them the techniques of severe ragging practiced in army camps.
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Meaning of Ragging

According to UGC Regulations,2009 the definition of student ragging is :

Any conduct by a student, whether by words spoken or written or by an act which includes

physical abuse, lewd acts, teasing, rough or rude treatment, indulging in rowdy, undisciplined

and obscene activities which cause or are likely to cause annoyance, undue hardship, physical

or psychological harm or mental trauma or raise apprehension or fear in a fresher / junior

student or other students or forcing a student to do any act which such a student is not willing to

do and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame or embarrassment or

danger to students life or adversely affect the physique or psyche of a fresher or a junior

student.

The Honble Supreme Court of India perhaps has given a more comprehensive meaning of

ragging as under:

"Ragging is any disorderly conduct, whether by words spoken or written, or by an act which has

the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness any student, indulging in rowdy or

indisciplined activities which cause or are likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological

harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in a fresher or a junior student and which has the

effect of causing or generating a sense of shame or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the

psyche of a fresher or a junior student."

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Forms of Ragging

1. Dress Code Ragging : The freshmen are asked to dress in a specific dress code for a

particular period of time. But this isnt as easy as it seems. For the dress code prescribed

is generally weird, eg., dressing totally in white or black with the hair oiled and combed

in a particular style. The dress code ragging may make the freshmen feel awkward and

uncomfortable as it often brings them unnecessary attention from everybody.

2. Formal Introduction : This involves asking the freshmen to introduce themselves in

'Shudh Hindi'. The introduction includes the freshmens name, address, school, marks,

etc.
3. Verbal Torture : Verbal torture involves indulging in loose talks. The freshmen may be

asked to sing the lyrics of any vulgar song or use abusive language while talking to the

seniors.
4. Sexual Abuse : This is the severest form of ragging that takes place in colleges. The

seniors are mainly interested in juicy details such as the anatomical description of ones

body parts, his or her sexual interests, etc. In many cases, the freshmen have been asked

to strip before the seniors.

5. Hostel Ragging : Outstation students who stay in the hostel are most vulnerable to

ragging. They may be asked to do all odd acts from cleaning the room of seniors to

washing their clothes, from fetching them water or milk to completing their assignments.
6. Drug Abuse : This can be the worst form of ragging wherein the freshmen are forced to

try drugs thereby driving them into addiction.

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Myths Related to Ragging

There are certain myths associated with ragging. These myths have glorified and justified

ragging. For example a popular myth is that ragging makes a student bold and prepares him for

the difficult circumstances in life. It is also believed that ragging helps in breaking the ice

between the seniors and freshers. It helps in their interaction and developing friendship between

them. However, there can be more effective, enjoyable and healthy ways of interacting!

1. Ragging Gives A Sense of Authority : By having the freshmen always at his

command, a senior student nurtures a sense of authority which boasts his morale and

puts him on a high.

2. Ragging Can Be A Means Of Retaliation: A senior who has some previous history

of ragging may like to get back by venting his frustrations on the freshmen.
3. Satisfaction Of Sadistic Pleasures: A potential ragger sees ragging as a good

opportunity to satiate his sadistic pleasures all at the cost of a poor freshmens

imagination.
4. Peer Pressure: It is also a reality that not all seniors who commit ragging enjoy doing

it at their sweet will. Seeing most of their batchmates indulging in ragging, they fear

being left out. So inorder to avoid isolation, they too join the herd.
5. Ragging Makes A Fashion Statement: Many senior students live under the

misconception that ragging makes a style statement and thus will put them in the

influential crowd of their college.

Consequences of Ragging
On The Victim:
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1. An unpleasant incident of ragging may leave a permanent scar in the victims mind that

may haunt him for years to come.

2. The victim declines into a shell, forcing himself into ignominy and alienation from the

rest of the world.

3. It demoralizes the victim who joins college life with many hopes and expectations.
4. Though incidents of physical assault and grievous injuries are not new, ragging also

simultaneously causes grave psychological stress and trauma to the victim.

5. Those students who choose to protest against ragging are very likely to face ostracism

from their seniors in the future.

6. In extreme cases, incidents of suicides and culpable homicide have also been reported.

On The Victims Family :

One can imagine the plight of a ragging victims family, especially his or her parents who see

their child suffering in pain and stress. Besides incurring medical and other incidental expenses

to rehabilitate their child, they also have to bear the trauma of seeing his or her prospective

career coming to an end.

On The Educational Institution :

1. Severe media barrage in extreme cases of ragging lowers the character of the educational

institution and destroys the respect and faith it commands from society.
2. Those who indulge in ragging bring a bad name to their college thereby hampering its

reputation and goodwill in society.

Substantive Laws Prohibiting Ragging

Presently, there are only four state legislations in India that prohibit ragging. These are:

1. The Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1996. (Applicable in the State of Tamil Nadu).

2. The Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1998.

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3. The Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1999.

4. The Prohibition of Ragging in Educational Institutes Act, 2000 (Applicable in the State of

West Bengal).

The common essential features of the aforementioned legislations are:

1. Firstly, they provide a statutory definition of ragging.

2. Secondly, they provide for setting up of Disciplinary Committees for taking immediate and

effective steps against ragging.

3. Thirdly, the legislations declare ragging to be a cognizable offence and prescribe punishment

for the same. For instance, The Maharashta Prohibition Of Ragging Act, 1999 says :

"Offenders of Ragging will be liable to a fine of Rs. 5000 or two years of rigorous imprisonment

or both. Offenders may also be expelled from their institutions without any scope for re-

admittance."

Preventive Ragging: The Landmark Supreme Court

Guidelines

So far there have been two landmark judgments prohibiting ragging. These are:

1. Ragging of Freshers in Thiruvananthapuram Government Engineering College vs. State of

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Kerala.

2. Vishwa Jagriti Mission through President vs. Central Government through Cabinet Secretary.

The judgment in the case of Vishwa Jagriti Mission through President vs. Central

Government, through Cabinet Secretary is particularly significant as the Honble Supreme Court,

while exercising its jurisdiction under Articles 32 and 142 of the Constitution of India, has laid

down broad guidelines for colleges and educational institutes to prevent ragging. Very Briefly,

these guidelines are:

1. Anti -Ragging Movements To Be Initiated By All Colleges And Educational Institutes

2. Undertakings To Be Taken Both From The Freshmen And Their Parents/ Guardians

3. Undertaking To Be Taken From Seniors Students And Their Parents/Guardians Too

4. Notices To Be Issued Indicating Where To Approach For Redressal In Case Of Ragging

5. Management, Principles And The Teaching Staff To Have Personal Interaction With The

Freshmen

6. Practorial Committees To Be Set Up

7. Ragging- Prone Zones To Be Identified And Carefully Guarded

8. Society To Be Sensitised On The Issue Of Ragging

9. Failure To Prevent Ragging To Be Constructed As An Act Of Negligence

10. Hostels/Accommodations To Be Carefully Guarded

11. Migration Certificates To Mention Whether The Student Ever Indulged In Ragging
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12. Withdrawal Of Financial Assistance To Institutes Where Ragging Incidents Are Reported

13. Students To First Approach Their Colleges

14. Police Not To Follow A Retributive Approach While Dealing With Ragging Culprits

RECENT CASES

College of Engineering and Management, Kolaghat

A first-year student of electronics and instrumentation at Kolaghat engineering college was

allegedly assaulted by his seniors outside the college campus while the West Midnapore boy was
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on his way back home. On 29 August, seniors with their faces covered slashed the boy's arm,

neck and back and threatened him with dire consequences if he ever returned to the college. His

parents lodged a complaint with the college director Naredra Nath Jana and Kolaghat police on

Monday.

This isn't the first time that Subhro Samanta, a bright student from Daspur resident, has met with

such fate.

"My son often used to complain of being assaulted and tortured by seniors. We told him that it

was a passing phase and urged him to concentrate on his studies," Subhro's father Tapas Samanta

said.

RKDF College, Bhopal

Anita Sharma (18), pursuing her B-Pharma second year course from the RKDF College, hanged

herself yesterday at her residence in Bhopal.

A note, purportedly written by Anita, blamed her four seniors and the faculty member for the

suicide.

According to the note, the girl's seniors had been allegedly ragging her from the time she got

admission in the college. They forced her to write their mid-semester copies and when she

brought this to the notice of faculty member, identified as Manish, he asked her to obey her

seniors if she wanted to continue in the college, police said.

Later, when the seniors came to know about her complaint, they started harassing her further and

threatened to throw acid on her as well as rape her, the suicide note said.
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Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College , Himachal Pradesh.

On 7th March 2009, Aman Kachroo, 19, a first-year undergraduate student of Dr Rajendra Prasad

Medical College complained to his parents about the brutal ragging on campus by completely

drunk third-year students. He was beaten so badly that he died of brain hemorrhage.

BIBLIOGRAPHY