UGC, KeLSA Submit Proposals Before Kerala High Court On Draft Suggestions For Amending Anti-Ragging Act, Rules

The Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) have submitted their respective suggestions on the two drafts prepared by the Working Committee, which was constituted to give suggestions for amendment to the Anti-Ragging Act and Rules.

A Special Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice C. Jayachandran was considering a petition moved by KeLSA regarding the menace of ragging in the State.

The counsel for UGC proposed that a time limit may be imposed for decision of the anti-ragging committee as well as for appeal. The counsel also suggested that a Special Court may be formed for dealing with the penal offences. UGC Counsel also proposed inclusion of autonomous, affiliated colleges, hostels and lodges in the definition clause. UGC suggested that the hostel warden maybe a member in the anti-ragging committee.

The counsel for KeLSA suggested that the concept of 'freshers' in the UGC regulations and the draft be removed and all students irrespective of their seniority should be given protection under the new law. KeLSA also suggested that wilful 'concealment of offence' can be added into the definition of 'deemed abetment', which is already mentioned in Section 7 of the present Act.

KeLSA made another suggestion that one of its nominee can be included in the State Monitoring Cell.

The Director General of Prosecution (DGP) told the Court that the suggestions are being placed before the committee and ultimately it is for the drafting committee to examine and recommend the amendments.

When the matter came up for consideration before the Bench on Wednesday (July 23), the counsel for KeLSA informed that she has filed an affidavit detailing two instances of ragging that occurred in Wayanad and Malappuram districts. The counsel told the Court the same was in sealed covers since it contained details about children in conflict with law.