Brief Context
Context The Delhi High Court has signalled that it may initiate a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) petition to address the recent surge in ragging incidents and student deaths across higher educational institutions. Supreme Court Observation in 2025 SC noted that UGC’s anti-ragging regulations remain mostly on paper. Institutions only follow formalities — like affidavits and posters — without real action.
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Syllabus: GS2/Governance
Context
- The Delhi High Court has signalled that it may initiate a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) petition to address the recent surge in ragging incidents and student deaths across higher educational institutions.
- The development comes after the Supreme Court, this year, expressed concern about the existing UGC regulations.
Supreme Court Observation in 2025
- SC noted that UGC’s anti-ragging regulations remain mostly on paper.
- Institutions only follow formalities — like affidavits and posters — without real action.
- It directed the formation of a National Task Force on student mental health.
Ragging in India
- According to the 2022 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report: Students accounted for 7.6% — or 13,044 — of all deaths by suicide in India, surpassing the combined toll among farmers and agricultural labourers.
- Of the total student deaths, 13.5% were reported in Maharashtra followed by 10.9% in Tamil Nadu, 10.3% in Madhya Pradesh and 8.1% in Uttar Pradesh.
Government Steps to Curb Ragging
- In a landmark verdict, the Vishwa Jagriti Mission v. Central Government & Others, 2001, the Supreme Court made ragging a punishable offense and mandated strict institutional measures.
- Raghavan Committee in 2007 was constituted by the Supreme Court of India to address the menace of ragging in educational institutions.
- The committee recommended treating ragging as a punishable criminal offense under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
- Supreme Court Guidelines: In 2009, the Supreme Court of India ordered the implementation of a ragging prevention program. The program included the following steps:
- Anti-ragging helpline: A toll-free helpline or call center to be set up.
- Regulations: Directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to frame regulations to curb ragging in higher education institutions.
- Anti-ragging committee: Mandated the UGC to constitute an Anti-Ragging Committee and an Anti-Ragging Squad.
- National Ragging Prevention Programme (NRPP), a data-driven mechanism, in 2009 under the UGC supervision.
- Features: A 24×7 dedicated student helpline, mandatory online affidavits to raise awareness, mechanisms to flag non-compliant institutions, and a non-governmental agency for independent monitoring.
- It allowed UGC to withdraw funding from non-compliant institutions.
- Role of NGOs: Organizations like Society Against Violence in Education (SAVE) actively track cases and push for legal action against institutions.
Reasons for Persisting Ragging
- Deep-Rooted Cultural Mindset: Ragging is often seen as a “rite of passage” or “initiation ritual” to foster bonding.
- Many seniors justify ragging because they themselves were ragged.
- Lack of Stringent Implementation: The Supreme Court issued anti-ragging guidelines 15 years ago, but they have largely remained on paper.
- UGC regulations exist but are poorly implemented.
- Institutions often downplay or suppress complaints to protect their reputation.
- Lack of Orientation and Awareness: New students often lack knowledge of their rights and redressal mechanisms.
- Orientation programmes are either ineffective or absent in highlighting anti-ragging policies.
- Unaccountable System: Victims often struggle with an ad hoc, non-transparent process where complaints are not adequately addressed.
- Institutional Inaction: Despite the mandate for Anti-Ragging Squads and surprise inspections, the UGC does not maintain any record of actions taken.
- Low Compliance: UGC guidelines require students to submit anti-ragging affidavits annually, yet RTI data shows that only 4.49% of students have done so in the past decade.
Way Ahead
- Strict Enforcement of Guidelines: Authorities must ensure full implementation of Supreme Court and UGC regulations, holding institutions accountable for lapses.
- Technology-Based Solutions: Expand CCTV surveillance in campuses to deter ragging incidents.
- Secure online portals and ID-based dashboards to enable anonymous reporting by victims.
- Legal Clarity: There is need for amendments to laws to ensure strict penalization of offenders, including faculty or management complicit in ignoring complaints.
Source: TH