Judicial system to be set up to prevent ragging; Commission report filed five years ago under consideration

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A judicial system will be set up to prevent the criminal pastime of ragging. This will allow students to file complaints directly and take immediate action without any hindrance.

The Justice K.K. Dinesh Commission, formed after the death of Jishnu Pranoy, a student of Nehru College, had submitted its recommendations to the government in 2018. Although the cabinet approved the recommendations in February 2018, no further action was taken at the time. This issue is now being reconsidered.

The recommendation is to establish an Ombudsman with quasi-judicial powers at the state and district levels, chaired by retired district judges. Minister R. Bindu said to Kerala Kaumudi that the government is examining the legal feasibility of setting up a judicial system at the state level.

Although there are anti-ragging cells at the college, university, and UGC levels, they are ineffective. Ragging complaints are often not handed over to the police, and only extreme cases are made public. The anti-ragging committee, formed under the college principal as chairman, exists only on paper.

Ragging
Ragging refers to any act that causes physical or mental harm to a student, including creating fear, anxiety, embarrassment, confusion, humiliation, insult, or causing injury.

Stringent law to come into force, victims need not fear anymore

• As per the rules, principals, teachers, student representatives, and the SHO at the station should be part of the anti-ragging committee. However, there is a common tendency to protect the perpetrators by resolving complaints without informing the police.
• The victims need not fear that they might face severe cruelty to the point where continuing their studies becomes impossible if they file a complaint with the judicial commission. The commission will have the authority to conduct swift investigations, including evidence collection. The police will have to file a criminal case within 24 hours. No one will be able to hoard complaints. When the case reaches court, the commission's report will be crucial. The perpetrators could face up to two years of imprisonment and fines. If physical harm is caused, the punishment will be 10 years.
• College authorities who turn a blind eye to ragging complaints will face equal punishment as the perpetrators. The head of the institution who fails to take action will be charged with abetment. The accused will be denied admission to any other institution for five years. If ragging is covered up in medical colleges, the college's accreditation will be revoked.

"Ragging is unfortunate, disgraceful, and traumatic. Children must speak out about their suffering. Awareness campaigns will be conducted. A state-level anti-ragging system is needed. A meeting of principals will be called."

Dr. R. Bindu, Minister