Anti-Ragging Act: Kerala HC tells govt to share copies of draft amendments with stakeholders
University Grants Commission
(UGC), within a week.
The directive was issued by the bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice C Jayachandran in a petition filed by KeLSA, which sought a direction to the govt to reassess the Act and frame rules to ensure the effective eradication of ragging.
During hearing, director general of prosecution (DGP) placed on record a communication from the home department additional chief secretary stating that the subcommittee constituted for preparing the draft amendments had submitted the same.
It was further informed that the home department is currently seeking comments from stakeholder departments before proceeding with the finalisation of the amendments.
However, HC observed that the drafts had not been placed before the bench and accordingly directed the state to furnish copies to the counsels for KeLSA and UGC to facilitate their suggestions. Meanwhile, KeLSA's counsel requested that the proposed amendment include a broad definition of 'educational institution' to curb the menace of ragging both within and beyond campus premises.
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KeLSA had filed the public interest litigation in response to the ragging incident at the Government College of Nursing, Kottayam, where junior students were reportedly subjected to severe physical abuse, including the tying of dumbbells to their private parts. Subsequently, the court impleaded the UGC as a respondent and sought its views on the petition.
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