Ragging yields sadistic pleasure?

Most of the people think that ragging means “playing jokes on somebody” or “teasing someone”. Ragging can be seen in U.S. also. Ragging is known as “Hazing” in the U.S. Hazing in US commonly does not involve gross violations of human rights like in India. But in India, ragging is more infamous for its ubiquitous presence in the educational institutions. According to the observations by the Dr.Ragavan Committee, which has been constructed by the Union Human Resource Development ministry on the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the medical colleges are the worst affected in India. A loss of self control in search of fun is the initiator of ragging. It continues on for about a month or so and after that the things are back to normal. It continues on for about a month or so and after that the things are back to normal. According to the reports the victims are solely the freshmen.

Even in foreign countries ragging of the sort found in our country was unheard of. Ragging is a serous violation of human rights , if student/students harass another by any of the way. In one case, if senior’s harassed fresher’s physically or mentally, they would be liable to be booked by police, expelled from college and denied admission in future. But with ragging offences still regularly reported, it was time to get tougher. According to the orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court, ragging has been banned in colleges and universities on the basis of the Raghavan Committee recommendations. Colleges have now been asked to put it on their prospectus that students found guilty of ragging would be expelled immediately. Teasing a junior student/freshman/someone is nothing but inhuman.

There is a difference between ragging and bullying. Actually bullying is a “no holds barred” scenario wherein everyone is the target of the bully whether he/she is batch mate or junior or senior. Bullying continues all the year round and it is not reciprocative. Bullies are there in every walk of life and school/universities are no exceptions. But ragging is not bullying. The differences are subtle but well defined. Ragging has a large number of people involved in it and is quite prevalent, though it is not so with bullying.

Actually the definition of ragging is concerned, as per the dictionary meaning is as follows Rag (noun): Cloth, Rag (noun): music, Rag (noun): news paper, Rag (verb): amusing/fun. But as per the statutory definition is concerned, the section 2(e) of Andhra Pradesh Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1997 defines ragging. ‘Ragging’ means doing an act which causes or is likely to cause insult or annoyance of fear or apprehension or threat or intimidation or outrage of modesty or injury to a student;

A major rise to anti-ragging efforts was given by a landmark judgment of Honorable Supreme Court of India in Vishwa Jagriti Mission’s case. In that case the Apex court issued several guidelines on ragging, including filing of an FIR by the institution concerned, and those are the apt to observe the guidelines given to curb ragging. Laws relating to the ragging in India is concerned the State of Tamil Nadu first passed laws related to ragging in the year of 1997. The Stated of Andhra Pradesh also passed laws relating to ragging i.e. The Andhra Pradesh Ragging Prohibition Act, 1997 (here in after called the Act). According to the Act, ragging within or outside any educational institution is prohibited.

According to the Act, whoever, with the intention of causing ragging or with the knowledge that he is likely by such act to cause ragging, commits or abets ragging and thereby –

(i) teases or embarrasses or humiliates a student shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both; or

(ii) assaults or uses criminal force to or criminally intimidates, a student shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with both; or

(iii) wrongfully restrains or wrongfully confines or causes hurt to a student shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both; or

(iv) causes grievous hurt to or kidnaps or abducts or rapes or commits unnatural offence with a student shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees; or

(v) causes death or abets suicide shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years and with a fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees.

A student convicted of an offence under the Act and punished with imprisonment for a term shall be dismissed from the educational institution. And a student convicted of an offence under the Act and punished with imprisonment for a term of more than six months shall not be admitted in any other educational institution.

Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions, whenever any student complains of ragging to the Head or Manager of an educational institution, such Head or Manager shall inquire into or cause an inquiry to be made into the same forthwith and if the complaint is prima facie found true, shall suspend the student or students complained against for such period as may be deemed necessary. The decision of the Head or Manager of the educational institution under sub-section (1) shall be final. If the Head or the Manager of an educational institution fails or neglects to take action in the manner specified above, such person shall be deemed to have abetted the offence and shall be punished with the punishment provided for the offence. If a student commits suicide due to or in consequence of ragging, the person who commits such ragging shall be deemed to have abetted such suicide. The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not derogatory of any law for the time being in force.

The Government may by notification, make rules for carrying out all or any of the purposes of this Act. Every rule made under this Act shall immediately after it is made, be laid before the Legislative Assembly of the State, if it is in session and if it is not in session, in the session immediately following for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive sessions, and if, before the expiration of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following the Legislative Assembly agrees in making any modification in the rule or in the annulment of the rule, the rule shall, from the date on which the modification or annulment is notified, have effect only in such modified form or shall stand annulled as the case may be so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

So, anti-ragging movement should be initiated by the institutions right from the time of advertisement for admissions. The prospectus, the form for admission and/or any other literature issued to aspirants for admission must clearly mention that ragging is banned in the institution and any one indulging in ragging is likely to be published appropriately which punishment may include expulsion from the institution, suspension from the institution or classes for a limited period or fine with a public apology. The punishment may also take the shape of: (1) withholding scholarships or other benefits, (2) debarring from representation in events, (3) withhold results, (4) suspension or expulsion from hostel or mess and the like. If there be any legislation governing ragging or any provisions in the Statute/Ordinances they should be brought to the notice of the student/parents seeking admissions.

Conclusion: The cause of indulging in ragging is deriving a sadistic pleasure or showing off power, authority or superiority by the seniors over their juniors or fresher’s. No one should violate the rights of others as it is a crime and punishable. Ragging can be stopped by creating awareness amongst the students, teachers and parents that ragging is a reprehensible act which does no good to any one and by simultaneously generating an atmosphere of discipline by sending a clear message that no act of ragging shall be tolerated and any act of ragging shall no go unnoticed and unpunished.