UGC Rules and Regulations on Anti Ragging :

University Grants Commission’s Regulations on curbing the menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009. (under Section 26(1)(g) of the University Grants Commission Act,1956) Dated June, 2009

PREAMBLE: In view of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of University of Kerala v/s. council, Principals, colleges and others” in SLP no. 24295 of 2006 dated 8.05.2009 in civil Appeal number 887 of 2009, and in consideration of the determination of the central Government and the University Grants Commission to prohibit , prevent and eliminate the scourge of ragging including any conduct by any student or students whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing , treating or handling with rudeness a fresher or any other student , or indulging in rowdy or indiscipline activities by any student or students which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other student, or asking any student to do any act which such student , in all higher education institutions in the country, and thereof, to provide for the healthy development, physically and psychologically, of all students, the university grants commission, in consultation with the councils bring forth this Regulation.

In exercise of the power conferred by clause (g) of sub-section (1) of section 26 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, the University Grants Commission hereby makes the following regulations, namely :

What constitutes Ragging ?

    Ragging constitutes one or more of any of the following acts :

  • Any conduct by any student or students whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness a fresher or any other student

  • Indulging in rowdy or indiscipline activities by any student or students which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship, physical or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other student.

  • Asking any student to do any act which such student will not in the ordinary course do and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame, or torment or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique of such or any other student.

  • Any act by a senior student that prevents, disrupts or disturbs the regular academic activity of any other student or a fresher

  • Exploiting the services of a fresher or any other student for completing the academic tasks assigned to an individual a group of students

  • Any act of financial extortion or forceful expenditure burden put on a fresher or any other student by students

  • Any act of physical abuse including all variants of it : sexual abuse, homosexual assaults, stripping, forcing obscene and lewd acts, gestures, causing bodily harm or any other danger to health or person

  • Any act or abuse by spoken words, emails, post, public insults which would also include deriving perverted pleasure, vicarious or sadistic thrill from actively or passively participating in the discomfiture of fresher or any other student

  • Any act that affects the mental health and self confidence of a fresher or any other student with or without an intent to derive a sadistic pleasure or showing off power , authority or superiority by a student over any fresher or any other student

Administrative action in the event of Ragging :

The institution shall punish a student found guilty of ragging after following the procedure and in the manner prescribed herein under:

a) The anti – Ragging committee of the institution shall be an appropriate decision, in regard to punishment or otherwise, depending on the facts of each incident of ragging and nature and gravity of the incident of ragging established in the recommendations of the Anti- Ragging Squad.

b) The Anti – Ragging committee may depending on the nature and gravity of the guilt established by the Anti – Ragging squad, award, to those found guilty, one or more of the following punishments, namely :

  1.   Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges

  2.   Withholding / Withdrawing scholarship/ fellowship and other benefits

  3.   Debarring from appearing in any test/ examination or other evolution process

  4.   Withholding Results

  5.   Debarring from representing the institution from any Regional, National or International meet, tournament, youth festival, etc.

  6.   Suspension / expulsion from the hostel vii. Cancellation of admission

  7.   Rusticating from the institution for period ranging from 1 to 4 semesters

  8.   Expulsion from the institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other institution for a specific period

  9.   Fine which may extend up to Rs.2.5 lakh, provided where the persons committee, or abetting the act of ragging are not identified, the institution shall resort to collective punishment.

c)  An appeal against the order of punishment by Anti-Ragging Committee shall lie :

  1.   In case of an order of an institution, affiliated to or constituent part, of a University, to the Vice-Chancellor of the University

  2.   In case of an order of a University, to its Chancellor

  3.   In case of an institution of national importance created by an Act of Parliament , to the Chairman or Chancellor of the institution, as the case may be.

Where an institution, being constituent of affiliated to or recognized by a university, fails to comply with any of the provisions of these regulations or fails to curb ragging effectively, such University may take any one or more of the following actions namely :

  1.   Withdrawal of affiliation/ recognition or other privileges conferred

  2.   Prohibiting such institution from presenting any student or students then undergoing any programme of study therein for the award of any degree/ diploma of the University. Provided that where an institution is prohibited from presenting its student or students, the commission shall make suitable arrangements for other students so as to ensure that such students are able to pursue their academic studies

  3.   Withholding grants allocated to it by the university, if any

  4.   Withholding any grants channelized through the university to the institution v. Any other appropriate penalty within the powers of the University.

Where in the opinion of the appointing authority, a lapse is attributable to any member of the faculty or staff of the institution, in the matter of reporting or taking prompt action to prevent an incident of ragging or who display an apathetic or insensitive attitude towards complaints of ragging, or who fail to take any timely steps, whether required under these regulations or otherwise, to prevent an incident or incidents of ragging, then such authority shall initiate departmental enquiry, in accordance with the prescribed procedure of the institution, against such member of the faculty or staff. Provided that where such lapse is attributed to the head of the institution, the authority designated to appoint such Head shall take such action.

The Commission shall, in respect of any institution that fails to take adequate steps to prevent ragging or fails to act in accordance with these Regulations or fails to punish perpetrators or incidents of ragging suitably, take one of more of the following measures :

  1.   Withdrawal of declaration of fitness to receive grants under section 12B of the Act

  2.   Withholding any grant allocated

  3.   Declaring the institution ineligible for consideration for any assistance under any of the general or special assistance programme of the Commission

  4.   Information the general public, including potential candidates for admission, through a notice displayed prominently in the newspapers or other suitable media and posted on the website of the commission

  5.   Taking such other action within its powers as it may deem fit and impose such other penalties as may be provided in the Act for such duration of time as the institution complies with the provisions of these regulations. Provided that the action taken under this cause by the Commission against any institution shall be shared with all Councils.

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