Anti Ragging

Preamble

In accordance with directives from the Hon’ble Supreme Court, and in alignment with the Central Government and the University Grants Commission’s resolve to eradicate ragging in all forms across higher education institutions, this Regulation aims to prohibit and prevent any behavior by students that may tease, treat rudely, or engage in rowdy or undisciplined activities causing annoyance, hardship, or psychological harm to any fresher or student. It seeks to prevent actions that induce shame, torment, or embarrassment, negatively affecting the physical and psychological well-being of students. Enacted under the authority vested by Clause (g) of sub-section (1) of Section 26 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, this Regulation is intended to foster a healthy environment conducive to the holistic development of all students. (Annexure-I)


Scope

The Anti-Ragging Policy clearly inform and educate all stakeholders in the system about the statutory provisions and the merits of the policy. A ragging-free campus would assure students and their parents a safe environment.


Objectives
  • To Prevent, Prohibit, and Redress any and all forms and instances of Ragging in the College.
  • To educate the students on the meaning of ragging and what constitutes it.
  • To educate the students on the ill-effects of ragging and the consequences, including legal consequences of indulging in ragging.

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 in-disciplined 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, 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;
  • 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.

Anti-ragging Committee (ARC)

As per UGC regulations, 2009 on curbing the menace of ragging in higher education institutes under para 6.3 (a&c) the college has constituted an anti-ragging committee as well as an anti-ragging squad consisting of the following members:

Head of the Institutions
  • Representative of Civil administration
  • Representative of Police administration
  • Representative of Media
  • Parent of Student as representative
  • Representative of Senior Female Faculty
  • Representative of Senior Male Faculty
  • Representative of non-teaching staff
  • One senior student
  • One fresher Student
  • Vice-Principal of the school
  • Chief Warden
  • Chief Proctor
  • Security Officer

Anti-ragging Squad

An anti-ragging squad can constitute at college level with in charge of dean and members of senior staff members including hostel warden.


Responsibilities of Anti-ragging Committee
  • To ensure compliance with the provision of UGC regulation 2009 at the institute level.
  • To monitor the anti-ragging activities in the institution.
  • To consider the recommendations of the Anti-Ragging Squad and take appropriate decisions, including spelling out suitable punishments to those are found to be guilty.
  • A proper counselling will be done to the person who is found guilty by the committee members to see for the scope of improvement based on which punishment will be decided.
  • Prepare and submit a complete report including their remarks about the incident for further action to the Head of Anti-Ragging Committee.

Roles and Responsibilities of Anti-Ragging Squad
  • To make surprise raids on hostels and other places vulnerable to incidents of ragging.
  • To conduct on the spot enquiry of any suspected incident of ragging.
  • If any ragging incidents are found, the same shall be reported to the anti-ragging committee for further enquiry.

Complaint Procedure:
1. File a Complaint:
  • The complainant (student) files a written complaint within one month of the incident or two months for a series of incidents.
  • If the complainant is unable to file, a legal heir or prescribed person may do so.
  • Complaints can be submitted in writing or via email to antiragging@ahscollege.ac.in.
2. Confidentiality:
  • The complainant's identity and details are kept confidential.
3. Preliminary Enquiry:
  • Within 5 working days, the Chairperson convenes a meeting to verify the complaint's facts.
  • If the complaint is valid, an Enquiry Committee is formed.
4. Inquiry Process:
  • Notice and Submission: Within five days, the Enquiry Committee sends a copy of the complaint and a notice to both parties, requesting written submissions within a week.
  • Oral Hearing: Within one week of receiving replies, the Enquiry Committee conducts an oral hearing, where both parties and witnesses present their accounts and evidence.
  • Questioning: The Committee asks questions submitted by both parties, disallowing irrelevant or inappropriate ones.
  • Additional Witnesses and Documents: The Committee may call additional witnesses and request relevant documents.
  • Fairness and Confidentiality: The Committee ensures a fair process and maintains confidentiality, avoiding face-to-face interaction between the complainant and the accused.
  • Decision in Absence: If the accused fails to appear for three hearings without a valid reason, the Committee may decide based on available evidence.
  • Legal Assistance: Lawyers are not allowed during the inquiry, but both parties can seek legal advice outside of the proceedings.
5. Conciliation (Optional):
  • If the complaint is valid, the Committee may attempt to resolve the matter through conciliation, prioritizing the complainant's wishes.
  • If a warning is deemed sufficient, the accused is called for a hearing and warned about their behavior.

Additional Notes:
  • The committee can take action even without a written complaint.
  • The complainant's signature is required for the complaint to be acted upon.
  • The entire process aims to maintain confidentiality, ensure a fair inquiry, and provide a platform for both parties to present their case.

Punishment Provisions

Any student or group of students found guilty of ragging on campus or off campus shall be liable to one or more of the following punishments:

  • Debarring from appearing in any sessional test/ university/college examination or withholding results Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges.
  • Withdrawing scholarships and other benefits.
  • Suspension from the College for a Period of one month.
  • Cancellation of admission
  • Debarring from representing the institution in any national or international meet, tournament, youth festival, etc.
  • Suspension/expulsion from the hostel
  • Rustication from the institution for periods varying from 1 to 4 semesters or equivalent period
  • Expulsion from the institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other institution
  • Fine up to Rs. 25000/- (Twenty-Five Thousand rupees).
  • Imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both
  • Collective punishment - When the students committing or abetting the crime of ragging are not identified, the institution shall resort to collective punishment as a deterrent to ensure community pressure on the potential raggers.

Measures For Preventions of Ragging in College Premises
  • An anti-ragging committee formed by the staff council representing members from student and staff.
  • An anti-ragging orientation program conducted for both students and parents for creating awareness regarding laws and action taken.
  • The name of the members in the anti-ragging committee along with their phone numbers are displayed at prominent locations in the campus.
  • Display of posters/banner/standee in the vulnerable areas of campus, Hostel, Canteen, Library etc. showcasing anti-ragging laws and ragging consequences along with the helpline number.
  • An anti-ragging undertaking form is to be filled by all the students during admission time.
  • Each student should also fill online undertaking at www.antiragging.in after confirmation of admission.
  • Promote healthy interaction between senior and junior students through various cocurricular and extra-curricular activities.
  • To extend counselling facility for the student indulgers in ragging.
  • Whole campus should be covered by CCTV vigilance.

Amendments in the Policy
  • The policy will be suitably amended as per modifications in the prevailing laws.
  • In case of need, committee may amend the policy time to time.
  • As per the Supreme Court of India Directive, it is mandatory to ensure safety of women at workplace

Ragging is the serious offence and needs to be cured in the bud even before it takes any shape.

Contact Details
Designation Name Mobile No. Email
Chairman Mr Nawaz Alam 8168952665 nawaz@ahscollege.ac.in