Ragging not any trivial matter, could end up in jail for two years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ragging has taken several deaths in recent years but authorities seldom share the concern it warrants. Recently, nine students were sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment in Nattakam Polytechnic ragging case.

In the guise of ragging, students are made to stand naked, perform penance on one leg, sing songs and forcefully drink alcohol. There have also been incidents of seniors attacking junior students with deadly weapons under the pretext of ragging. According to the UGC, 25 students(victims of ragging) have committed suicide in the last five years.

There also exists collusion between college authorities and union students such that the authorities make sure that the dreadful details of ragging won’t make it outside the college campus. The UGC proposal that the anti-ragging committee comprising principal, teachers, student representatives and police inspector should meet once a month to consider the complaints of the students has not been implemented.

The medical commission has warned about withdrawing accreditation of medical colleges and reducing the number of seats if the authorities fail to report incidents of ragging to police stations. If found guilty, the accused should be suspended first and the complaint should be then handed over to the police.

• The punishment for ragging is imprisonment for up to two years and a fine of ten thousand rupees.

• The accused student will be expelled from the institution. No admission to any other institute for three years.