Frame stringent anti-ragging law, Kerala HC tells State government

The Kerala government should frame a stringent law that provides severe punishment for those who rag students at educational institutions since the University Grant Commission’s (UGC) anti-ragging regulations are inadequate, the Kerala High Court has said.

This is critical to end the menace of ragging and also to prevent deaths caused by unruly conduct by the perpetrators. On its part, the State should ensure that the guilty are punished. Although the UGC’s anti-ragging regulations are stringent, they are not enough to curb ragging in its entirety, the court added, while disposing of petitions filed by Kanthanathan R., assistant hostel warden, and M.K. Narayanan, hostel warden and Dean of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, who had been suspended following the death of Sidharthan J.S., a second-year student of the college, who was found hanging in the bathroom of the hostel in February 2024, allegedly following brutal ragging by fellow students.

Physical abuse and public trial

In its report, the university’s anti-ragging squad had confirmed that Sidharthan was subjected to brutal physical abuse and public trial by a section of students. The report also held the assistant warden and the Dean responsible for administrative lapses and failure to observe rules and regulations that prohibited ragging.

Action against students

The court made it clear that in view of the communication on September 27, 2024, by the Chancellor to the Vice-Chancellor, the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University is directed to initiate departmental proceedings against the petitioners and to finalise the same within three months. The two petitioners should fully cooperate with the proceedings. On its part, the university should ensure appropriate action against the students responsible for the incident due to which Sidharthan lost his life in the prime of his youth. Since the UGC’s anti-ragging regulations are not enough to curb ragging, the State should frame stringent law that provides severe punishment for ragging. It should also ensure that the guilty do not go unpunished, the court added.