Body shaming, digital abuse punishable under Kerala's new anti-ragging law
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala govt is set to introduce the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging (Amendment) Bill, 2025, overhauling its two-decade-old anti-ragging legislation. This move comes in the wake of the death of J S Siddharthan — a student of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Pookode, Wayanad, at his hostel last February — which highlighted critical loopholes in the existing 1998 Act.
For the first time, the revised bill explicitly defines ragging to include body shaming, psychological harassment, and digital abuse, making them punishable under law. Harassment through internet or any other electronic mode will now be a cognisable offence. The amendment broadens scope of ragging to encompass a wide array of criminal acts, such as abetment, criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and rioting.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
No funds from muzrai temples diverted: DGR
Mangaluru: Minister for health and family welfare, Dinesh Gundu Rao, expressed concern over the spread of false information accusing the govt of diverting revenue from endowment temples for other purposes. Stating that the govt utilises the revenue from muzrai temples exclusively for the development of religious shrines under the department, the minister said that a few organisations have been spreading malicious campaigns against the govt with a political agenda. Rao was speaking at a consultation meeting with the management committee members of temples under the Hindu religious institutions and charitable endowments department on Friday. The Congress govt under chief minister Siddaramaiah increased 'tasdik' (remuneration for archaks) from Rs 24,000 to Rs 36,000 per year, and later to Rs 48,000 during his previous term. "The govt has further increased the tasdik to Rs 72,000. There is a political conspiracy to portray the Congress govt as anti-Hindu," Rao alleged. The state govt passed the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill to make provisions to utilise a portion of revenue from rich temples for the development of Hindu shrines with lower income. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "While the BJP opposed the bill, the governor has referred it to the President of India for approval," he said, and called upon endowment temple management committees to submit a memorandum to the governor and the President, seeking approval for the bill. MLC Manjunath Bhandary said that to prevent this malicious campaign, all endowment temples should put up notice boards clarifying that 'no funds from Hindu temples are diverted for other purposes.' He demanded that members of all B and C Grade endowment temples should be given ID cards from the department. Shwetha Palli, executive officer of Bappanadu Durgaparameshwari Temple, noted that 493 temples in Dakshina Kannada come under the muzrai department, of which 10 generate the highest income. MLC Ivan D'Souza, deputy commissioner Darshan HV and zilla panchayat CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbhari were present.
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Death penalty too harsh: Governor sends back Bengal's Aparajita bill
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose has sent the Aparajita Bill back to the state government for consideration of the serious objections raised by the Centre over the proposed changes to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita that the legislation seeks, a highly placed source in the Raj Bhavan Centre, in its observation, found that the Aparajita Women and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, passed in the assembly in September 2024, seeks changes in punishment for rape under multiple sections of the BNS that are 'excessively harsh and disproportionate,' the source state government, however, maintained it has no intimation so far from the central government or the governor's office regarding their 'observations' on certain provisions in the Bill. The Bill proposes enhancement of punishment for rape from the existing minimum of 10 years under the BNS to life imprisonment for the remainder of one's life or death."The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has flagged multiple provisions in the Bill as problematic. After taking note of the MHA observation, the Governor has referred those for appropriate consideration to the state government," the source told PTI."The Centre has described the proposal of amendment to Section 64 of the BNS to increase the punishment for rape from a minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment for the remainder of the convict's life or the death penalty as excessively harsh and disproportionate," he said, referring to the MHA's other controversial change is the proposed deletion of Section 65, which currently provides stricter penalties for rape of girls aged under 16 and 12."The removal of this classification undermines the principle of proportionality in sentencing and could reduce legal protections for the most vulnerable victims," he the clause drawing the sharpest criticism is the one under Section 66, which seeks to make the death penalty mandatory in rape cases where the victim either dies or is left in a persistent vegetative state."The ministry has raised constitutional concerns, arguing that removing judicial discretion in sentencing violates established legal norms and Supreme Court rulings," the source Bill was recently reserved by Governor Bose for the consideration of the President of India.'As of now, there is no communication from anyone with regard to the Aparajita Bill. We will consider taking suitable measures, as per requirements in the matter, if and when we receive such intimation," a senior bureaucrat of the state West Bengal assembly had unanimously passed the Bill nearly a month after the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#West Bengal#Bharatiya Janta Party
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
Bengal: Centre raises concern over death penalty clause in Aparajita Bill, Governor sends it back to state govt
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