Latest news with #KeralaProhibitionofRaggingAct
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- The Hindu
Body shaming, forcing liquor and drugs, online ragging made punishable in Kerala draft anti-ragging bill
Body shaming, asking a student to do any act or perform something, which he/she will not do in the ordinary course and forcing a fresher to use tobacco, liquor and prohibited/scheduled narcotic substances will be deemed as an act of ragging, according to a draft bill being considered by the Kerala government. The draft bill, the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging (Amendment) Bill, has also brought 'any form of ragging committed through the internet or in any digital mode' under the ambit of the criminal act of ragging for which severe punishment has been prescribed. Ragging including any form of ragging committed through internet or digital mode shall be a cognizable offence. The drat Bill, while amending some of the key provisions of the principal act, Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act, has widened its ambit to cover all the educational institutions including universities, deemed to be university, including teaching departments, higher educational institutions, schools and other institutions under general education department, elements and constituent units of such institutions, all their premises in Kerala. Also Read | Six students booked for ragging junior in Kerala's Kozhikode Teaching branches of all government departments, institutions of national importance established by an Act of Parliament, Central Universities, and all coaching and tuition centres have been brought under the definition of educational institutions. The draft legislation also covers academic and residential premises of all such institutions, besides the playgrounds, canteens located within and outside the campuses, bus stands, home stays, all means of public and private transportation facilities accessed by students for the pursuit of studies in such institutions in Kerala. A host of criminal acts committed as part of the ragging including abetment to ragging, criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, rioting, public nuisance, and committing obscene and sexual acts committed while ragging will come under the ambit of the draft Bill. Causing bodily harm during the act of ragging, stripping, theft, extortion, dishonest misappropriation of property, criminal breach of trust, criminal trespass, criminal intimidation will also come under the scope of the Bill, according to the draft legislation. The State had witnessed a series of public protests following the death of J. S. Sidharthan, a 20-year-old student. He was found dead at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, Wayanad, in February 2024, allegedly following brutal ragging. Recently, the Kerala High Court had asked the State government to provide a copy of the draft Anti-Ragging (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to the Kerala State Legal Services Authority and the University Grants Commission on a petition filed by the Authority.
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Time of India
KSU urges collector to act on rising violence at Maharaja's College men's hostel
Kochi: KSU has written to district collector NSK Umesh, seeking urgent intervention into alleged rising incidents of violence and ragging at Maharaja's College men's hostel. KSU has requested collector to check drug abuse within the hostel and its premises. According to KSU, violence became routine in the hostel, with past complaints, FIRs and student protests failing to prompt action. "The culture of impunity that took root in the hostel poses a grave threat not only to the safety of individual students but to the integrity of the institution itself. We are concerned that if left unaddressed, this environment will continue to breed lawlessness, fear and irreparable harm to young lives," said a letter written by KSU Ernakulam assembly president Muhammad Ajmal K K. In the letter, the student outfit cited Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1998, highlighting that many of the acts within the hostel constitute clear cases of ragging, including physical assault, intimidation and psychological abuse. KSU has demanded a time-bound inquiry, installation of CCTV cameras, regular police inspections and strict implementation of anti-ragging guidelines. "We seek justice for victims and a safe, dignified space for all students," stated the letter.
