Annexure-I: UGC Regulations on Anti-Ragging

UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION

UGC REGULATIONS ON CURBING THE MENACE OF RAGGING IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, 2009

(Under Section 26 (1) (g) of the University Grant Commission Act, 1956) Dated June, 2009

PREAMBLE

In view of the Directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of “University of Kerala V/S Council, Principals, Colleges and others” in SPL no. 24295 of 2006 dated 16.05.2007 and that dated 08.05.2009 in Civil Appeal number 887 of 2009, and in consideration of the determination of the Central Government and the University Grant Commission 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 indiscipline activities by any student or students, which causes or likely to cause annoyance, hardships or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other students, 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 sane, 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, in all higher education institution in the country, and thereby, to provide for the healthy development, physically or psychologically, of all students, the University Grant Commission, is consultation with the Councils, brings forth this Regulation.

In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (g) of sub-section (1) of section 26 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, the University Grant Commission hereby makes the following Regulations, namely

What constitutes Ragging?

1. Ragging constitutes one or more of any of the following acts: a. 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;
2. Indulging in rowdy or indiscipline activities by any student or student which cause or likely to cause annoyance, hardship, physical or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other student;
3. Asking any student to do any act which such student will not in the ordinary course to 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;
4. Any act by a senior student that prevents, disrupts or disturbs the regular academic activity of any other student or a fresher,
5. Exploiting the services of a fresher or any other student for completing the academic tasks assigned to an individual or a group of students.
6. Any act of financial extortion or forceful expenditure burden put on a fresher or any other student by students;
7. 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;
8. Any act or abuse by spoken words, emails, post, 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;
9. 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 showing off power, authority or superiority by a student over any fresher or any other student

Administrative action in the event of Ragging

The institution shall punish a student found guilty of ragging after following the procedure and in the manner prescribed herein under

a) The Anti-Ragging committee of the institution shall take an appropriate decision, in regard to punishment or otherwise, depending on the facts of each incident of ragging and nature and gravity of the incident of ragging established in the recommendations of the Anti-Ragging Squad.

b) The Anti-Ragging Committee may, depending on the nature and gravity of the guilt established by the Anti- Ragging Squad, award, to those found guilty, one or more of the following punishments, namely:

1. Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges.
2. Withholding / withdrawing scholarships / fellowship and other benefits.
3. Debarring from appearing in any test / Examination or other evaluation process.
4. Withholding results.
5. Debarring from representing the institution in any Regional, National or International meet, tournament, youth festival, etc.
6. Suspension / expulsion from the hostel.
7. Cancellation of admission
8. Rustication from the institution for a period ranging from 1 to 4 semesters.
9. Expulsion from the institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other institution for a specified period.
10. Fine which may extend up to 2.5 lakhs. Provided that where the person committing or abetting the act of ragging are not identified, the institution shall resort to collective punishment.                                                                                                                                                                                                       c) An appeal against the order of punishment by the Anti-Ragging Committee shall lie;

1. In case of an order of an institution, affiliated to or constituent part, of a University to the Vice-Chancellor of the University;
2. In case of an order of a University, to its Chancellor.
3. In case of an institution of national importance created by an Act of Parliament, to the Chairman or Chancellor of the institution, as the case may be.