Ragging-A Social Crime

Ragging is a criminal offence as per the Supreme Court verdict. Ragging is an offence under penal code and under section 116 of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983 (Karnataka Act No.1 of 1995), which define ragging as: “Causing, inducing, compelling or forcing a student, whether by way of practical joke or otherwise, to do any act which detracts from human dignity or violates his/her person or exposes him/her to ridicule from doing any lawful act. By intimidating, wrongfully restraining, wrongfully confining, or injuring him or by using criminal force on him/her or by holding out to him/her any threat of intimidation, wrongful confinement, injury or the use of criminal force.” “Ragging in all its forms is totally banned at BGCL including in its departments, constituent units, all its premises (academic, residential, sports, kiosks, cafeteria and the like) whether located within the campus or outside and in all means of transportation of students whether public or private. The institution shall take strict action including but not limited to criminal proceeding and/or cancellation of admission against those found guilty of ragging and/or of abetting ragging and the burden of proof shall hereby lie on the perpetrator of alleged ragging and not on the victim. An offence of Ragging may be charged either on a written complaint by the affected or on independent finding of the Anti Ragging Squad. The Institution is bound by the “UGC Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions 2009.” Available at www.ugc.ac.in/ragging.html BGCL has established an anti-ragging cell to curb and control the incidents of ragging which is now a days a wide spread menace. This cell comprises of Dean Students’ Welfare, HOD’s, Teachers and Student Volunteers. It aims at creating a healthy and cordial academic environment with human touch for the new comers which will facilitate them in adapting to the new environment. All cases of ragging or any other such activity will be referred to this cell for prompt and strict disciplinary action against the defaulters. On the walls and website of the college, posters containing messages against the ragging have been posted which will warn the senior student about the consequences of the ragging. An affidavit from the students & their parents is undertaken, before start of new session along with the registration form, that if any student found involving in ragging he/she will be punished harshly. The punishment may be in form of suspension from the classes, a fine with a public apology or even expulsion from the campus. There is a strict in vigilance on the senior students inside and outside the institute hostel authorities are also put on high alert.

Punishable Ingredients

• Abetment / instigation to ragging
• Criminal conspiracy to rag
• Unlawful assembly and rioting while ragging
• Public nuisance created during ragging
• Violation of decency and morals through ragging
• Injury to body, causing hurt / mental trauma or grievous hurt
• Wrongful restraint
• Wrongful confinement
• Use of criminal force
• Assault as well as sexual offences or unnatural offences
• Extortion
• Criminal trespass
• Offences against property
• Criminal intimidation
• Attempt to commit any or all of the above mentioned offences against the victim
• Physical or psychological humiliation
• Any act / abuse by spoken words, e-mails, snail mails, blogs, public insults etc.
• Any act that prevents, disrupts or disturbs the regular academic activity of a student
• All other offences following from the definition of “Ragging”.
• Attempt to commit any or all of the above mentioned offences against the victim

Punishments against Ragging
Depending upon the nature and gravity of the offence as established by the Anti-Ragging Committee of the Institution, the possible punishments for those found guilty of ragging shall be any one or any combination of the following :

• Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges
• Withholding / withdrawing scholarship / fellowship and other benefits
• Forfeiting Campus Placement opportunities / recommendations
• Debarring from appearing in any test/examination or other evaluation process
• Withholding of results
• Debarring from representing the institution in any regional, national or international meet, tournament, youth festival etc.
• Suspension/ expulsion from the hostel
• Cancellation of Admission
• Rustication from the institution for a period, ranging from 1 to 3 years
• Expulsion from the institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other institution for a specific period
• Fine of Rupees 25,000/-
• Collective punishment: When the persons 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. In addition, in case of every single incident of ragging, a First Information Report (FIR) will be filed with the local police authorities. The possible punishment includes rigorous imprisonment (in compliance with the order of Supreme Court of India)