Following the uproar over the death of MBBS first-year student Aman Kachroo in a Himachal college,an expert committee of the University Grants Commission (UGC) on Tuesday approved draft anti-ragging regulations. The regulations call for treating ragging as a cognizable offence under the law on a par with rape and other atrocities against women and ill-treatment of persons belonging to SC Besides proposing punishments ranging from expulsion and debarring students from admission to any other institute,rustication from 1-4 semesters,admission cancellation,debarring from examinations,Rs 25,000 fine,withholding results,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 are registered with the local police. To be termed UGC regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions,2009,these are likely to come into effect starting this academic session and apply to all varsities under the Central or State Act,all institutions deemed to be university and to all departments and their premises as well as modes of transport public or private. Action against students apart,the university will be empowered to withhold grants,impose penalty and even withdraw affiliation/recognition of an institution if it fails to comply with the regulations. The UGC will also be able to withhold/stop all grants,delist institutions and declare them ineligible for any assistance and collaborations in such cases. The commission will offer incentives to institutions with a blemish-free record of strict action against ragging with special annual grants-in-aid,financial awards and incentives for the post of wardens to attract the right type of candidates. At the time of admission,each student will have to submit an undertaking which will be part of the application form stating awareness of anti-ragging regulations and affirming that he will not indulge in any act that amounts to ragging. Also the migration/transfer certificate issued at the end of the course will also have an entry for conduct mentioning whether a student was ever punished for a ragging offence or abetting it. The UGC has also proposed,as recommended by the Raghavan Committee,that wardens be empowered enough with security personnel under their direct control,given mobile phones and remain available to students round-the-clock to check ragging in hostels. The UGC also proposes that freshers who do not report ragging incidents either as victims or witnesses shall also be punished suitably. On its part,the UGC expert committees and other regulatory authorities will verify institutes compliance of anti-ragging regulations and this will be factored in when accreditation is given to these institutes. To coordinate between all institutes,the UGC will create a Board for Co-ordination with representatives of IITs,NITs,IIMs,Medical Council of India,AICTE,DCI,NCI and all such bodies involved in higher education to monitor the anti-ragging movement in the country. The UGC will also establish an anti-ragging cell in the commission for the purpose.
