Express View on Jadavpur University student death: End ragging

Source: The post is based on the article “Express View on Jadavpur University student death: End ragging” published in The Indian Express on 26th August 2023.

Syllabus topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Education.

News: An 18-year-old student from Jadavpur University (JU) possibly died due to ragging. His family claims he faced abuse from senior students. The university and police are investigating, and 12 people have been arrested.

Why Ragging been a long-standing issue?

Tradition and Misguided Rituals: Ragging is often seen as a coming-of-age ritual on campuses.

Lack of Oversight: Universities sometimes fail to ensure the safety and well-being of new students. For example, reports suggest that even long-graduated students at JU still occupy hostels and intimidate freshers.

Deep-rooted Hierarchies: Seniority often mixes with caste, class, and gender privileges, worsening bullying.

Ineffective Implementation: Despite two Supreme Court verdicts against ragging, many institutions don’t adhere to guidelines. For instance, 25 students have committed suicide since 2018 due to ragging, as per UGC data.

What have courts said before?

2001 Directive: The Supreme Court instructed higher educational institutions (HEIs) to establish proctorial committees to address ragging complaints.

2009 Committee Formation: After the death of a 19-year-old medical student due to ragging, the Supreme Court formed a committee led by former CBI director R K Raghavan.

UGC’s Role: The same year, UGC accepted the committee’s recommendations and instructed HEIs to establish internal anti-ragging committees and promote positive interaction between new and senior students.

What should be done to overcome the issue of Ragging?

Strict Implementation: Universities must strictly enforce anti-ragging guidelines. Past negligence led to tragic outcomes, like the JU student’s death.

Increased Oversight: Campuses should monitor senior students and alumni, especially those wrongfully occupying hostels, as seen at JU.

Promote Positive Interaction: As the UGC advised, institutions should foster healthy interactions between newcomers and senior students.

Transparent Reporting Mechanisms: Create efficient internal mechanisms for ragging complaints, in line with the Supreme Court’s 2001 directive.

Regular Audits: Institutions should undergo periodic checks to ensure adherence to anti-ragging rules, addressing gaps like JU’s inadequate response on preventive measures.