{"id":327487,"date":"2025-02-22T12:30:58","date_gmt":"2025-02-22T07:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/?p=327487"},"modified":"2025-02-27T11:18:32","modified_gmt":"2025-02-27T05:48:32","slug":"ragging-in-india-challenges-measures-explained-pointwise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/ragging-in-india-challenges-measures-explained-pointwise\/","title":{"rendered":"Ragging in India \u2013 Challenges &amp; Measures Explained Pointwise"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Ragging in educational institutions has been a persistent issue in India, often resulting in severe physical, psychological, and emotional harm to students. Despite strict legal provisions and Supreme Court directives, incidents of ragging continue to occur, as highlighted by the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">recent cases in Kerala&#8217;s Government College of Nursing, Kottayam<\/span>, and Government College, Karyavattom, Thiruvananthapuram. This article explores the issue of ragging, its impact, reasons for its persistence, and measures to eradicate it effectively. <strong>Ragging in India<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_327488\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-327488\" style=\"width: 489px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-327488\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ragging-in-India.png?resize=489%2C273&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Ragging in India\" width=\"489\" height=\"273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ragging-in-India.png?w=706&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ragging-in-India.png?resize=300%2C167&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 489px) 100vw, 489px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-327488\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Source- The Indian Express<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%; text-align: center;\"><strong>Table of Content<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 100%;\"><a href=\"#h1\">What is the definition of Ragging?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h2\">What are the recent incidents of ragging and related statistics?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h3\">What are the consequences of Ragging?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h4\">What are the challenges in combating Ragging?\u00a0<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h5\">What are the committees and legal framework against Ragging in India?<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"#h6\">What is the way forward?<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><a id=\"h1\"><\/a>What is the definition of Ragging?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Supreme Court of India, in the <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Vishwa Jagriti Mission v. Central Government (2001) case<\/span>, defined ragging as any act that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Involves disorderly conduct, spoken or written words that tease or treat a fresher\/junior rudely.<\/li>\n<li>Displays <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">rowdy or undisciplined behavior<\/span> causing annoyance, hardship, or psychological harm.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Instills fear or apprehension<\/span> in freshers\/juniors.<\/li>\n<li>Forces students to perform acts they wouldn\u2019t normally do, leading to shame or embarrassment.<\/li>\n<li>Adversely affects the physical or mental well-being of students.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Ragging can take many forms, including physical, psychological, sexual, or verbal abuse, often leading to severe consequences such as depression, anxiety, and even suicides.<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><a id=\"h2\"><\/a>What are the recent incidents of ragging and related statistics?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Despite efforts to curb ragging, incidents continue to be reported across the country. Some concerning statistics include:<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid; background-color: #f2fffe;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 37.0303%;\"><strong>Kerala Case (2025)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 62.9697%;\">A video from a Government Nursing College in Kottayam showed a student being tied and assaulted, highlighting the persistent issue of ragging.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 37.0303%;\"><strong>UGC Helpline Data (2009-2023)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 62.9697%;\"><strong>1.<\/strong> Over <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">8,000 ragging complaints<\/span> were logged.<br \/>\n<strong>2.<\/strong> Complaints <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">increased by 208% from 2012<\/span> (358 complaints) <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">to 2022<\/span> (1,103 complaints).<br \/>\n<strong>3.<\/strong> 78 student deaths allegedly due to ragging between 2012 and 2023.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 37.0303%;\"><strong>State-wise Data<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 62.9697%;\"><strong>1.<\/strong> <strong>Highest student deaths<\/strong>: Maharashtra (10), Uttar Pradesh &amp; Tamil Nadu (7 each), Telangana (6), Andhra Pradesh (5), Madhya Pradesh (4).<br \/>\n<strong>2.<\/strong> <strong>Highest complaints<\/strong>: Uttar Pradesh (1,202), Madhya Pradesh (795), West Bengal (728), Odisha (517), Bihar (476), Maharashtra (393).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 37.0303%;\"><strong>Institutions with most complaints<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 62.9697%;\"><strong>1.<\/strong> Banaras Hindu University (BHU) \u2013 72 complaints.<br \/>\n<strong>2.<\/strong> Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal \u2013 53 complaints.<br \/>\n<strong>3.<\/strong> MKCG Medical College, Berhampur \u2013 49 complaints.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><a id=\"h3\"><\/a>What are the consequences of Ragging?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>1. Impact on Victims<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Physical harm<\/strong>: Cases of injuries, disabilities, and even deaths due to violent ragging.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Psychological trauma<\/strong>: Victims suffer from anxiety, depression and suicidal tendencies.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Academic disruption<\/strong>: Fear of harassment leads to loss of focus, absenteeism, and declining performance.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Health issues<\/strong>: Stress-induced problems like insomnia, eating disorders, and substance abuse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>2. Legal consequences for Perpetrators:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Criminal Charges:<\/strong> Ragging is punishable under various IPC sections, including:\n<ul>\n<li>Section 323 \u2013 Causing hurt<\/li>\n<li>Section 506 \u2013 Criminal intimidation<\/li>\n<li>Section 509 \u2013 Outraging modesty<\/li>\n<li>Section 306 \u2013 Abetment of suicide (in extreme cases)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Academic Penalties:<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Suspension, expulsion, blacklisting from institutions<\/span>, and loss of scholarships.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Career Damage<\/strong>: Criminal records can lead to <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">disqualification from government jobs<\/span> and private employment opportunities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>3. Impact on Educational Institutions<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Loss of reputation<\/strong>: Institutions known for ragging face negative media attention and declining admissions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>UGC &amp; Government Action<\/strong>: Colleges failing to curb ragging risk <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">funding cuts, de-recognition, and legal action<\/span> under <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">UGC Clause 9.4.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Campus environment<\/strong>: A culture of fear and violence disrupts learning and student well-being.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>4. Impact on Parents &amp; Society<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Emotional &amp; Financial Burden<\/strong>: Parents of victims suffer mental distress and financial hardships due to medical and legal expenses.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Erosion of Trust<\/strong>: Society loses faith in educational institutions as safe spaces, leading to increased calls for strict anti-ragging laws.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><a id=\"h4\"><\/a>What are the challenges in combating Ragging?\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">1. Weak Enforcement of Regulations<\/span>&#8211; <\/strong>Despite Supreme Court directives and UGC regulations, enforcement remains ineffective.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Clause 9.4 of the UGC Regulations<\/span> allows action against non-compliant institutions, yet it has <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">never been<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">enforced since 2009<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li>Institutional apathy leads to ragging complaints being dismissed as trivial conflicts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>2. Lack of awareness and sensitization<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Many seniors are unaware of the severe psychological and legal consequences of ragging.<\/li>\n<li>Institutions fail to conduct effective orientation programs to educate students on the dangers of ragging.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>3. Fear of reporting<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Victims hesitate to report due to fear of retaliation from seniors.<\/li>\n<li>Social stigma discourages victims from speaking out, as they fear being labeled weak.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>4. Ineffective grievance redressal<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Many <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">anti-ragging committees exist only in name<\/span>, lacking real authority or action.<\/li>\n<li>Complaints are often ignored or not resolved in a timely manner.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>5. Inadequate monitoring &amp; grievance mechanisms<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Poor CCTV surveillance and lack of digital complaint tracking reduce transparency and accountability.<\/li>\n<li>Inefficiencies in anti-ragging helplines result in many cases going unreported or unresolved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>6. Cultural Acceptance<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>&#8220;Initiation Ritual&#8221; Mindset<\/strong>: Many seniors perceive ragging as a tradition to bond with juniors.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Peer Pressure<\/strong>: A cycle of abuse continues as former victims impose the same experiences on newcomers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong><a id=\"h5\"><\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What are the committees and legal framework against Ragging in India?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>1. Raghavan Committee (2007)-<\/strong> Recommended mandatory anti-ragging affidavits, FIR filing, disciplinary actions, and sensitization programs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. Unny Committee (1999)<\/strong>&#8211; Emphasized student safety, institutional accountability, and grievance redressal.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. UGC Regulations (2009)<\/strong>&#8211; Allowed strict penalties for institutions failing to prevent ragging. These regulations were based on the recommendations of the Raghavan Committee.<\/p>\n<p><strong>4. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023<\/strong>&#8211; New criminal provisions to address ragging under wrongful restraint, criminal intimidation, and assault.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. State-Specific Anti-Ragging Laws<\/strong>&#8211; Kerala (1998), Maharashtra (1999), Andhra Pradesh (1997), Assam (1998) have strict anti-ragging laws.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. Information Technology (IT) Act (2000):<\/strong> Cyber ragging (e.g., online harassment or bullying) can be prosecuted under the IT Act. Section 66A (now repealed) and <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Section 67<\/span> (publishing obscene material) were used to address online ragging.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Supreme Court guidelines on Ragging<br \/>\n<\/strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Vishwa Jagriti Mission v. Central Govt (2001)<\/span>: The Supreme Court mandated strict anti-ragging measures in educational institutions.<\/p>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid; background-color: #eeffed;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 35.9394%;\"><strong>Institutional Responsibilities<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 64.0606%;\"><strong>1.<\/strong> Set up Anti-Ragging Committees &amp; Squads for surprise checks and complaint redressal.<br \/>\n<strong>2.<\/strong> File <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">FIR within 24 hours<\/span> of a confirmed ragging incident.<br \/>\n<strong>3.<\/strong> Display anti-ragging guidelines prominently on websites and campuses.<br \/>\n<strong>4.<\/strong> Make students submit affidavits annually pledging not to engage in ragging.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 35.9394%;\"><strong>Legal &amp; Administrative Measures<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 64.0606%;\"><strong>1.<\/strong> Establish <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">UGC\u2019s 24&#215;7 Anti-Ragging Helpline (1800-180-5522).<\/span><br \/>\n<strong>2.<\/strong> Impose monetary fines, rustication, and debarment from exams for offenders.<br \/>\n<strong>3.<\/strong> Require<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> mandatory sensitization programs<\/span> for students and faculty.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2><strong><a id=\"h6\"><\/a><span style=\"color: #000000;\">What is the way forward?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>1. Strengthening legal &amp; institutional framework<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Invoke UGC Clause 9.4 against non-compliant institutions.<\/li>\n<li>Fast-track trials and strict punishment for offenders.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>2. Technology-driven monitoring<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Install AI-based CCTVs in hostels and campuses.<\/li>\n<li>Create anonymous digital complaint tracking systems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>3. Awareness &amp; Behavioral change<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Conduct mandatory anti-ragging workshops.<\/li>\n<li>Implement student mentorship programs to foster inclusivity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>4. Strengthening reporting mechanisms<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Improve UGC helpline accessibility.<\/li>\n<li>Establish anonymous online reporting portals with direct police alerts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>5. Community and peer involvement<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Mobilize senior students to act as mentors and promote a positive campus culture.<\/li>\n<li>Engage parents and local communities in anti-ragging initiatives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Despite strong laws and Supreme Court guidelines, ragging continues to plague India\u2019s education system. A multi-pronged approach involving legal action, institutional reforms, technology integration, and cultural change is essential. Strict enforcement and student-led initiatives can create a safe and inclusive academic environment, free from the menace of ragging.<\/p>\n<table style=\"height: 90px; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: solid;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 90px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 100%; height: 90px;\"><strong>Read more<\/strong>&#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/express-exclusive\/ragging-deaths-complaints-spike-system-stuck-in-grey-zone-supreme-court-guidelines-on-paper-9845397\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Indian Express<\/a><br \/>\n<strong>UPSC Syllabus- GS2<\/strong>&#8211; Governance- Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector\/Services relating to Education<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ragging in educational institutions has been a persistent issue in India, often resulting in severe physical, psychological, and emotional harm to students. Despite strict legal provisions and Supreme Court directives, incidents of ragging continue to occur, as highlighted by the recent cases in Kerala&#8217;s Government College of Nursing, Kottayam, and Government College, Karyavattom, Thiruvananthapuram. This&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/ragging-in-india-challenges-measures-explained-pointwise\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Ragging in India \u2013 Challenges &amp; Measures Explained Pointwise<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10367,"featured_media":327488,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[130],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-327487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-7-pm","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Ragging-in-India.png?fit=706%2C394&ssl=1","views":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327487","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10367"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=327487"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327487\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/327488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=327487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=327487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=327487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}