Introduction

PESIAMS College has constituted an Anti-Ragging Committee, whose main objective is to ensure a ragging-free environment for all those who are studying in the institution and to address any ragging complaint received.

Anti-Ragging Committee is one of the important parts of Educational Institution’s mechanism. As per the guidelines of UGC under the Act of 1956, which is modified as UGC regulations on curbing the menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009 establishment of Anti-Ragging Committee is very compulsory in all educational institutions.

Objective:

Anti-Ragging Committee is the supervisory and advisory committee in preserving a culture of ragging free environment in the college campus. The main objectives of this Committee are as follows:

• To make students aware of dehumanizing effect of ragging inherent in its perversity.
• To keep a continuous watch and vigil over ragging so as to prevent its occurrence and recurrence.
• To promptly and stringently deal with the incidents of ragging brought to the notice of the committee.
• To generate an atmosphere of discipline by sending a clear message that no act of ragging shall be tolerated and any act of ragging shall not go unnoticed and unpunished.

Composition of Anti-Ragging Committee for the AY 2020-21:

Punishable ingredients of Ragging:-

• Abetment to ragging.
• Criminal conspiracy to ragging.
• Unlawful assembly and rioting while ragging.
• Public nuisance created during ragging.
• Violation of decency and morals through ragging.
• Injury to body, causing hurt or grievous hurt.
• Wrongful restraint.
• Wrongful confinement.
• Use of criminal force.
• Assault as well as sexual offences or unnatural offences.
• Criminal trespass.
• Offences against property.
• Criminal intimidation.
• Attempts to commit any or all of the above mentioned offences against the victim(s).
• Physical or psychological humiliation.
• All other offences following from the definition of “Ragging”.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

• The Committee shall meet as and when any complaint is received by it. Complaint may be received by any member of the committee.
• The Committee shall direct the employee(s)/student to prepare and submit a written response to the complaint / allegations within a period of four (4) days from such direction or such other time period as the Committee may decide.
• The Committee shall conduct the proceedings in accordance with the principles of natural justice. It shall allow both parties reasonable opportunity of presenting their case.
• The Committee shall allow both parties to produce relevant documents and witnesses to support their case. Documents produced by either party shall be affixed with that party’s signature to certify the document as original / true copy.
• The party against whom the document / witness is produced shall be entitled to challenge / cross-examine the same.
• The Committee shall sit on a day-to-day basis to record and consider the evidence produced by both parties.
• As far as practicable, all proceedings of the Committee shall take place in the presence of both parties.
• Minutes of all proceedings of the Committee shall be prepared and duly signed by the members of the Committee.
• If, in the course of the proceedings before it, the Committee is satisfied that a prima facie case of ragging is made out against the accused and that there is any chance of the recurrence of any such action, or that it is required to do so in the interests of justice, it may, on the request of the complainant or otherwise, disciplinary action could be initiated in the form of anyone of the following depending in the seriousness of the issue.

Punishment for ragging:

• Written apology.
• Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges.
• Debarring from appearing in any test/examination or other evaluation process.
• Debarring from representing the institution in any regional, National or International meet, tournament, Youth festival, etc.
• Suspension/ Expulsion from the hostel.
• Cancellation of Admission.
• Expulsion from the Institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other institution for specified period.
• Collective punishment: when the persons committing or abetting the crime of ragging are not identified, the institution shall resort to collective punishment.
  If, in the course of the proceedings before it, the Committee is satisfied that any person has retaliated against / victimized the complainant or any person assisting the complainant as a result of the complaint having been made or such assistance having been offered, the Committee shall report the same in writing, to the Principal/Management, with reasons and with recommendations of the action to be taken against such person.

If, at the culmination of the proceedings before it, the Committee is satisfied that the complainant has knowingly brought false charges of ragging against any person, it shall report the same in writing to the Principal/Management, with reasons and with recommendations of the action to be taken against such person.

Responsibilities of the Committee:

• To uphold and comply with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and be vigilant on any acts amounting to ragging.
• To publicize to all students and prevalent directives and the actions that can be taken against those indulging in ragging.
• To consider the complaints received from the students and conduct inquiry and submit report to the Anti- Ragging Committee along with punishment recommended for the offenders.
• Conduct workshops against ragging menace and orient the students.
• To offer services of counselling and create awareness to the students;
• To take all necessary measures for prevention of Ragging inside the Campus/ Hostels.