Anti-Ragging Committee

Consisting of the following members is constituted for the session 2021-22:

Anti-Ragging – Reporting, Recording and Disposal

“Zero Tolerance to Ragging”

VGU aims to ensure that no ragging takes place in the University and its hostel premises, by promulgating and enforcing stringent anti-ragging measures, and making provisions for deterrent and harsh punishment to defaulters. To ensure this, VGU follows all the Regulations and Guidelines of UGC and Honourable Supreme Court of India through a Anti Ragging Policy:

The Policy

VGU realises that ragging is a menace in student life and it is committed to take strong action against the students found guilty of this crime.

1. What Constitutes Ragging: “Any disorderly conduct whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness any other student, indulging in rowdy or undisciplined activities which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in a fresher or a junior student, or asking the students to do any act or perform something which such student will not in the ordinary course and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of a fresher or a junior student.”

    Specifically, ragging constitutes any one or more of the following acts (the list is only illustrative):

• 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 undisciplined activities by any student or students which causes or are likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological or physical harm or to raise the fear or apprehension thereof in a fresher or any other student.
• Asking the students to do or perform any act which such a 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 or psyche of such fresher or any other student.
• Any act by a senior student that prevents, disrupts or disturbs the regular academic activity of any other student or fresher.
• Exploiting the services of a fresher or any other student for completing the academic tasks assigned to an individual or a group of students.
• Any act of financial extortion or forceful expenditure burden put on a fresher or any other student by other students.
• Any act of physical abuse including all of its variants, viz., sexual abuse, homosexual assaults, stripping, and forcing obscene and lewd acts, gestures, causing bodily harm or any other danger to health or person.
• Any act or abuse by spoken words, e-mails, posts, or public insults which would also include deriving perverted pleasure, vicarious or sadistic thrill, or showing off power, authority or superiority, or passively participating in the discomfiture to any 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 over any fresher

2. Prohibition of Ragging: Ragging in any form is strictly prohibited:

• Within the University Campus including the Departments, Canteen, etc.,
• In Hostels, Messes, Canteens, Cafeteria, etc.
• In Playgrounds, Transport Vehicles, etc.

3. Punishment

(a) By the University:

• Cancellation of admission, suspension, rustication or expulsion from the University/ Hostel.
• Filing FIR with the police.
• Collective punishment may be imposed where the persons involved are not identified.

(b) By the Law & Order Agencies:

Over and above the University-level action, there will be strong police and legal action. Ragging is a cognizable offence under the law of the land. , and the Supreme Court has ruled that the punishment to be meted out has to be exemplary and justifiably harsh to act as a deterrent. According to relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), those found guilty of a ragging related offence can be punished with imprisonment or fine or both. The quantum of punishment varies with the gravity of the crime. For example, Section 323 which deals with the cases of voluntarily causing hurt, can lead to imprisonment up to one year or fine or both; Section 306 which deals with abetment to suicide, specifies the punishment as imprisonment up to ten years with or without fine. Some other sections of IPC in this context include Section 341 (wrongful restraint), Section 506 (criminal intimidation), Section 302 (murder), Section 307 (attempt to murder), etc.

4. Measures to Curb Ragging

(a) Before Admission:

• The Admission and Registration Form at the time of registration for a semester will require two Affidavits, one signed by the student and the other signed by the parent. https://www.antiragging.in/affidavit_registration_disclaimer.html
• A student will not be admitted /registered until both the Affidavits mentioned above are submitted.

(b) At the time of Admission and Registration:

• Every student, will be given a copy of this document outlining details of the Anti-Ragging Regulation for which he / she shall sign having received it, and its record will be maintained in the University.
• The paper containing necessary instructions to freshers on whom to contact in case of any ragging incident or any attempt to ragging. This includes the contact mobile numbers of the University Anti-Ragging Squad members, Anti-Ragging Committee members, Mentor, and designated persons of the University administration.

5. General Instructions

• Anti-Ragging Committee: The University has set up an Anti-Ragging Committee headed by a Senior Professor. This Committee will ensure that no incidents of ragging as given in this Regulation takes place, and it will also monitor and ensure that the instructions of this regulation are fully followed in letter and spirit at all times. The Committee will also maintain the strictest vigil at all times and ensure that the Anti-Ragging Squad of the University carries out its functions properly. It will deliberate on the reports of the Anti-Ragging Squads or of any other person who witnesses the incident of ragging, or on the complaint of any fresher or other students, and determine the punishment, namely, University level disciplinary action or filing FIR with police or both.

• University-level Anti-Ragging Squad: The Anti-Ragging Squad of the University comprises senior faculty members, and representatives of students. Its function includes going around / patrolling the Departments, common areas of the Campus and other premises like playground, and maintain vigil at all times on all days and take action if they notice any incident of ragging or attempt to do so.

The Anti-Ragging Squad also has the responsibility to investigate incidents of ragging and report it forthwith to the Anti-Ragging Committee. The Anti-Ragging Committee may also entrust the Squad with specific investigative jobs.

• Anti-Ragging Squad (Hostel): The Anti-Ragging Squad of the Hostel comprises the Hostel Warden and several staff members and students who would be staying in the Hostel. Its function is to keep vigil in the hostel and mess premises, and take action when ragging related complaints or issues crop up.

• Mentor: Each student will be assigned to a Mentor. The Mentors would frequently interact with the students, or the students can freely approach them for any help or advice. The Mentors will also coordinate with the Hostel Wardens and make surprise visits to the hostels to monitor and look after the welfare of the students.

• Do’s and Don’ts for Fresher Students: –
• Be courteous to all.
• Always speak the truth, but never be blunt.
• Always keep your cell phone with you. Keep it on silent / vibration mode.
• Load your cell phone with all important contact numbers of the University / hostels / your parents.

6. Instructions Specific to Hostels:

The accommodation for the fresher students will be in a separate hostel block. The fresher hostel block will be clearly demarcated and entry into the freshers’ hostel will be manned by security staff round the clock. No one, particularly senior students, will be permitted to enter the freshers’ hostel at any time, except with express permission from the Warden. Similarly, fresher students are not permitted to visit hostels of senior students. The responsibility for ensuring the above instructions will be of the security guard/guards on duty at the entry points to the freshers’ hostels. All students shall report back in their respective hostel rooms latest by 8:00 PM. Attendance of hostel students, both freshers and seniors, will be taken at 9:00 PM and the report submitted to the Anti-Ragging Squad. All students shall abide by the Hostel Rules and the Anti-Ragging Regulations.

7. Anti-Ragging Patrols: If necessary, Anti-Ragging Patrols may be specifically detailed by the Chairman, Anti-Ragging Committee. These patrols may operate 24x 7 in the campus, hostels, and nearby premises.

8. Reporting of Ragging Incidents or Apprehension: Freshers are requested to report any ragging-related matter to the Hostel Warden, any faculty or staff member, Mentor, or any member of the Anti-Ragging Committee or Squads.

Any fresher student who went through or is apprehensive of an impending ragging incident shall promptly report it to any member of the Anti-Ragging Squad or the Anti-Ragging Committee, or to the Staff Advisor, or any faculty member or staff by any means such as, in person, by phone call, by e-mail, by written note, etc. The written complaints may also be dropped in the drop boxes kept prominently for this purpose at various locations in the academic buildings and hostels. The complaints can even be anonymous.

9. Action Procedure Anti-Ragging Patrol or Anti-Ragging Squads shall immediately report any incident of ragging or attempt or conspiracy for ragging, or any related complaint to the Anti-Ragging Committee. The Anti-Ragging Committee will consider the matter, investigate and take immediate action as per the situation.

10. Instructions to Parents – Instruct your wards to desist from ragging freshers or other students in any form. – Keep regular contact with your wards and monitor their wellbeing and academic progress. – Frequently interact with the Mentor and other faculty members to track the welfare and progress of your wards (every student will have a Mentor).

Implementation

To prevent ragging, at the beginning academic session, VGU sensitize the students and parents on ragging and caution the students that indulging in ragging can ruin all their career goals as stern action will be taken against the offenders.

VGU has put in place a structured mechanism to monitor ragging related issues and stringent punishment to the offenders. University building including hostels and mess are monitored through constant camera surveillance.  The anti-ragging squads of the University and hostels, take frequent rounds of the campus to prevent any incidence of ragging. The Anti-ragging Committee of the University oversee and enforce the anti-ragging regulations in letter and spirit. The newly admitted students are also encouraged to communicate with their respective mentors on any academic or personal problem and seek help.