Bill To Amend Anti-Ragging Act Pending Before Law Dept For Scrutiny: State Tells Kerala High Court

The Director General of Prosecution on Thursday (September 25) informed the Kerala High Court that the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Amendment Bill is now before the Law department for scrutiny.

The Special Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice C. Jayachandran was considering petitions before it for addressing the issue of ragging menace in the State. Earlier, Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) had 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.

Considering the submission, the Court observed:

"The learned Director General of Prosecution states that the draft of the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Amendment Bill along with the suggestions is now sent to the Law Department for scrutiny. Thereafter, it will be returned to the Home Department and then placed before Council of Ministers and further steps thereafter would be taken. Therefore, it appears that it is still at an initial stage. Considering that the State itself has expressed the need to bring about a comprehensive legislation, it is expected that these steps are taken urgently. Learned Director General of Prosecution says that Law Department will make its best endeavour to finalise the scrutiny and vet the same at the earliest. According to us, 4 weeks will be sufficient. Thereafter, further steps still have to be taken."

"Communicate our expectation. At least in 4 weeks they should," the Court orally added.

Background

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was moved by the Kerala State Legal Service Authority (KeLSA) flagging the rising menace of ragging within the educational institutions in the State. Thereupon, a special bench was constituted to hear the matter. The plea was filed after J.S Sidharthan, a second-year undergraduate student at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University was found dead in the men's hostel washroom at Wayanad's Pookode village.

The State was directed to constitute a Working Group to frame comprehensive Rules to curb the rising menace of ragging in the State. Upon the constitution of a Multidisciplinary Working Group, it was directed to fill the lacunae in the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act 1998 by suggesting amendments and framing Rules, to hold a preliminary meeting soon and devise its plan of action.

Case Title: Kerala State Legal Service Authority v. Government of Kerala and Others

Case No: WP(C) No. 8600 of 2025