Ragging in Kandaghat polytechnic , Four accused girls suspended

August 2nd, 2009

Government Polytechnic for Women, Kandaghat in Solan district, 35 kilometres from here, has come under the scanner with a First Year (Electronics) student, Girija Sharma, filing a case of ragging against four students of the polytechnic.

The ragging victim in a written complaint addressed to the polytechnic Principal alleged that second year students Jyotsna , Aastha, Monika and Sarita not only misbehaved with her but she was also ragged in the name of introduction.

The polytechnic principal Vineeta Arya on Saturday called anti ragging committee meeting which found the four students guilty of ragging and decided to suspend them from classes for a week.

"One ragging accused student lives in Polytechnic hostel and three live in a rented accommodation. All have been suspended from classes for a week," Vineeta Arya, Principal, Government Polytechnic for Women said.

The polytechnic administration notwithstanding the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Bill, 2009 notification has neither filed a complaint against the accused girls in the police station nor have they been expelled from the institution. The government owned polytechnic administration has tried to hush up the case by giving minor punishment to the ragging accused students.

The anti ragging law clearly states that “Any student convicted of an offence under this law shall be expelled from the educational institution and shall not be eligible for admission in any other educational institution for a period of three years from the date of such expulsion. Such offenders will be punished with imprisonment of up to three years, or fine of up to Rs 50,000, or both".

When asked , Government Polytechnic for Women principal said that action has been taken as per the law and there is no need to expel the girls from the polytechnic.

" We have taken action as per the law. You can clarify it from our Director ," Vineeta Arya said.