Anti Ragging

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Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging

As per UGC Regulations, 2009 on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions under para 6.3, ViswassCollege of Nursing constituted an Anti-Ragging Committee, as well as an Anti-Ragging Squad consisting of the following with immediate effect.

Short title and commencement:-

  • These Regulations may be called Viswass College of Nursing (Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging in Nursing education) Regulations 2018.
  • They shall come into force on the date of the notification.

Objectives:-

 

In view of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in SLP No. 24295 of 2006 dated 16-05-2007 and in Civil Appeal number 887 of 2009, dated 08-05-2009 to prohibit, prevent and eliminate the scourge of ragging including any conduct by any student or students whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness a fresher or any other student, or indulging in rowdy or undisciplined activities by any student or students which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other student or asking any student to do any act which such student will not in the ordinary course do and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame, or torment or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of such fresher or any other student, with or without an intent to derive a sadistic pleasure or showing off power, authority or superiority by a student over any fresher or any other student and thereby, to provide for the healthy development, physically and psychologically of all students. The tenure of the Anti-ragging Committee will be for a period of two years. This issues with the approval of the competent authority.

 

RAGGING MONITORING MECHANISM

  • ANTI-RAGGING COMMITTEE
  • ANTI-RAGGING SQUAD
  • MENTORING CELL
  • MONITORING CELL ON RAGGING

 

ANTI-RAGGING COMMITTEE

Shall constitute a Committee to be known as the Anti-ragging Committee to be nominated and headed by the Head of the Institution, and consisting of representatives of civil and police administration, local media, Non-Government Organizations involved in youth activities, representatives of faculty members, representatives of parents, representatives of students belonging to the freshets’ category as well as senior students, non-teaching staff; and shall have a diverse mix of membership in terms of level as well as gender.
It shall be the duty of the Anti-Ragging Committee to ensure compliance with the provisions of these Regulations as well as the provisions of any law for the time being in force concerning ragging; and also to monitor and oversee the performance of the Anti-Ragging Squad in the prevention of ragging in the institution.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES OF ANTI-RAGGING COMMITTEE

On receipt of the recommendation of the Anti Ragging Squad or on receipt of any information concerning any reported incident of ragging, the Head of the institution shall immediately determine if a case under the penal laws is made out and if so, either on his own or through a member of the Anti Ragging Committee authorized by him in this behalf, proceed to file a First Information Report (FIR), within 24 hours of receipt of such information or recommendation, with the police and local authorities, under the appropriate penal provisions relating to one or more of the following, namely:

 

  • Abetment to ragging
  • Criminal conspiracy to rag
  • Unlawful assembly and rioting while ragging
  • Public nuisance created during ragging
  • Violation of decency and morals through ragging
  • Injury to body, causing hurt or grievous hurt
  • Wrongful restraint
  • Wrongful confinement
  • Use of criminal force &Criminal trespass
  • Assault as well as sexual offences or unnatural offences
  • Extortion
  • Offences against property
  • Attempts to commit any or all of the above-mentioned offences against the victim(s)
  • Threat to commit any or all of the above-mentioned offences against the victim(s)
  • Physical or psychological humiliation
  • Other offences follow the definition of “Ragging”.

 

ANTI-RAGGING SQUAD

Shall also constitute a smaller body to be known as the Anti-Ragging Squad to be nominated by the Head of the Institution with such representation as may be considered necessary for maintaining vigil, oversight and patrolling functions and shall remain mobile, alert and active at all times. Provided that the Anti-Ragging Squad shall have representation of various members of the campus community and shall have no outside representation.
It shall be the duty of the Anti-Ragging Squad to be called upon to make surprise raids on hostels, and other places vulnerable to incidents and having the potential for ragging and shall be empowered to inspect such places.
It shall also be the duty of the Anti-Ragging Squad to conduct an on-the-spot enquiry into any incidents of ragging referred to it by the Head of the institution or any member of the faculty or any member of the staff or any student or any parent or guardian or any employee of a service provider or by any other person, as the case may be; and the enquiry report along with recommendations shall be submitted to the Anti-Ragging Committee for action. Provided that the Anti-Ragging Squad shall conduct such enquiry observing a fair and transparent procedure and the principles of natural justice and after giving adequate opportunity to the student or students accused of ragging and other witnesses to place before it the facts, documents and views concerning the incidents of ragging, and considerations such other relevant information as may be required.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES OF SQUADS IN CHARGE OF THE ANTI-RAGGING COMMITTEE

Squads In charge will be Responsible for the following in their areas:

  • They will form duty charts & carry out regular checks for any Ragging activity in their areas.
  • They will carry out surprise checks in probable areas of ragging.
  • In case of any incidence noticed on the spot, assessment of the incidence be made and necessary action to be taken and inform the control cell immediately in given Performa.
  • Ensure anti-ragging instructions are displayed at prominent places in their areas of control.
  • Each squad in charge will make a detailed duty plan in respect of his squad and forward a list copy of the same to the control room.
  • Every squad in charge will brief all members of his squad about their duties/actions regarding anti-ragging.
  • In case of inadequacy of the member detailed in their respective teams, they may float additional requirements to the in-charge of the anti-ragging committee.
  • The squad in charge will collect the updated list of students including their latest addresses and phone no’s in respect of the classes run in their blocks of their areas.
  • Any member of the squad not performing his duty properly will also be communicated to the Anti-ragging committee as per the proforma given.
  • The squad in Incharge will maintain the proper duty attendance register in respect of the members of the squad and their duties.
  • For communication with the in-charge of the anti-ragging committee following telephone, no’s furnished at the end.

 

MENTORING CELL

Every institution shall, at the end of each academic year, in order to promote the objectives of these Regulations, constitute a Mentoring Cell consisting of students volunteering to be Mentors for freshers, in the succeeding academic year; and there shall be as many levels or tiers of Mentors as the number of batches in the institution, at the rate of one Mentor for six freshers and one Mentor of a higher level for six Mentors of the lower level.

 

MONITORING CELL ON RAGGING

Shall set up a Monitoring Cell on Ragging to coordinate with the institutions to monitor the activities of the Anti-Ragging Committees, Squads, and Mentoring Cells, regarding compliance with the instructions on conducting orientation programmes, counselling sessions, etc., and regarding the incidents of ragging, the problem faced by wardens and other officials, etc. This Cell shall also review anti-ragging measures, and cross-verify the receipt of affidavits from candidates/students and their parents/guardians every year.
Monitoring Cell shall call for reports from the Heads of institutions in regard to the activities of the Anti-Ragging Committees, Anti-Ragging Squads, and the Mentoring Cells at the institutions, and it shall also keep itself abreast of the decisions of the Anti-Ragging Committees etc.
The Monitoring Cell shall also review the efforts made by institutions to publicize anti-ragging measures, soliciting affidavits from parents/guardians and from students, each academic year, to abstain from ragging activities or willingness to be penalized for violation; and shall function as the prime mover for initiating action for amending the Statutes or Ordinances or Bye-laws to facilitate the implementation of anti-ragging measures at the level of the institution.

 

What constitutes Ragging?

Ragging constitutes one or more of any of the following acts:

  • Any conduct by any student or students whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating, or handling with rudeness a fresher or any other student;
  • Indulging in rowdy or undisciplined activities by any student or students which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship, physical or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other student;
  • Asking any student to do any act which such student will not in the ordinary course do and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame, or torment or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of such fresher or any other student;
  • Any act by a senior student that prevents, disrupts, or disturbs the regular academic activity of any other student or a fresher;
  • Exploiting the services of a fresher or any other student for completing the academic tasks assigned to an individual or a group of students;
  • Any act of financial extortion or forceful expenditure burden put on a fresher or any other student by students;
  • Any act of physical abuse including all variants of it: sexual abuse, homosexual assaults, stripping, forcing obscene and lewd acts, gestures, causing bodily harm, or any other danger to health or person;
  • Any act or abuse by spoken words, emails, posts, or public insults which would also include deriving perverted pleasure, vicarious or sadistic thrill from actively or passively participating in the discomfiture to fresher or any other student;
  • Any act that affects the mental health and self-confidence of a fresher or any other student with or without an intent to derive a sadistic pleasure or show off power, authority, or superiority by a student over any fresher or any other student.