[NDTV] SC cracks down on ragging

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Wednesday, May 16, 2007 (New Delhi)
The Supreme Court has come down heavily on ragging, telling institutions that any failure or negligence in lodging FIRs will be construed as negligence on the part of the institutions.

The court has ordered all institutions to implement several of the recommendations made by a government-appointed committee, the Raghavan Committee.

The court said that ragging must be deterred by exemplary and harsh punishment.

In every instance where a victim or his guardian is not satisfied with the action taken against ragging, an FIR must be filed by the institution.

The move comes after a committee appointed by the Supreme Court and headed by former CBI Director R K Raghavan recommended a comprehensive law to check ragging, asking for educational institutions to be made accountable.

The Raghavan committee report had found out that the conviction rate in ragging cases booked under the Indian Penal Code was very low and recommended changes in the IPC.

The committee suggested an induction programme for the freshers with the help of senior students under faculty guidance and faculty training to check incident of ragging.

The committee recommended stern penalties including expelling students accused of ragging and asked for counselling for victims.