GOVERNMENT ARTS COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS),

SALEM-7.
UGC REGULATIONS ON CURBINGTHE MENACE
OF RAGGING IN HIGHER EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS, 2009
BAHADURSHAH ZAFAR MARG, NEW DELHI – 110 002

UGC REGULATIONS ON CURBING THE MENACE OF RAGGING IN

HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, 2009.

(Under Section 26 (1) (g) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956)

Dated June, 2009.

PREAMBLE.

In view of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of” University of
Kerala v/s. Council, Principals, Colleges and others” in SLP no. 24295 of2006 dated
16.05.2007 and that dated 8.05.2009 in Civil Appeal number 887 of 2009,and in
consideration of the determination of the Central Government and the University Grants
Commission to prohibit, prevent and eliminate the scourge of ragging including 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, or indulging in rowdy or indisciplined activities by any student or students which
causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or
apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other student or asking any student to do any
act which such 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, with or without an
intent to derive a sadistic pleasure or showing off power, authority or superiority by a
student over any fresher or any other student, in all higher education institutions in the
country, and thereby, to provide for the healthy development, physically and
psychologically, of all students, the University Grants Commission, in consultation with
the Councils, brings forth this Regulation.

In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (g) of sub-section (1) of Section 26 of the
University Grants Commission Act, 1956, the University Grants Commission hereby
makes the following Regulations, namely;

1. Title, commencement and applicability.-

1.1 These regulations shall be called the “UGC Regulations on Curbing the Menace of
Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009”.

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1.2 They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

1.3 They shall apply to all the institutions coming within the definition of an University
under sub-section (f) of section (2) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, and
to all institutions deemed to be a university under Section 3 of the University Grants
Commission Act, 1956, to all other higher educational institutions, or elements of such
universities or institutions, including its departments, constituent units and all the
premises, whether being academic, residential, playgrounds, canteen, or other such
premises of such universities, deemed universities and higher educational institutions,
whether located within the campus or outside, and to all means of transportation of
students, whether public or private, accessed by students for the pursuit of studies in such
universities, deemed universities and higher educational institutions.

2. Objectives.-

To prohibit 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, or indulging in rowdy or indisciplined activities by any student or
students which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or
to raise fear or apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other student or asking any
student to do any act which such 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, with or
without an intent to derive a sadistic pleasure or showing off power, authority or
superiority by a student over any fresher or any other student; and thereby, to eliminate
ragging in all its forms from universities, deemed universities and other higher
educational institutions in the country by prohibiting it

3 Under these Regulations, preventing its occurrence and punishing those who indulge in
ragging as provided for in these Regulations and the appropriate law in force.

3. What constitutes Ragging.-?

a. Ragging constitutes one or more of any of the following acts: a. 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;

b. indulging in rowdy or indisciplined activities by any student or students which causes

or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship, physical or psychological harm or to raise fear
or apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other student;

c. asking any student to do any act which such 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;

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d. any act by a senior student that prevents, disrupts or disturbs the regular academic
activity of any other student or a fresher;

e. exploiting the services of a fresher or any other student for completing the academic
tasks assigned to an individual or a group of students.

f. any act of financial extortion or forceful expenditure burden put on a fresher or any
other student by students;

g. any act of physical abuse including all variants of it: sexual abuse, homosexual
assaults, stripping, forcing obscene and lewd acts, gestures, causing bodily harm or any
other danger to health or person;

h. any act or abuse by spoken words, emails, post, public insults which would also
include deriving perverted pleasure, vicarious or sadistic thrill from actively or passively
participating in the discomfiture to fresher or any other student ;

i. 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 by a student over any fresher or any other student.

4. Definitions.-

1) In these regulations unless the context otherwise requires,- a) “Act” means, the
University Grants Commission Act, 1956 (3 of 1956); b) “Academic year” means the
period from the commencement of admission of students in any course of study in the
institution up to the completion of academic requirements for that particular year. c)
“Anti-Ragging Helpline” means the Helpline established under clause (a) of Regulation
8.1 of these Regulations. d) “Commission” means the University Grants Commission; e)
“Council” means a body so constituted by an Act of Parliament or an Act of any State
Legislature for setting, or co-ordinating or maintaining standards in the relevant areas of
higher education, such as the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the
Bar Council of India (BCI), the Dental Council of India (DCI), the Distance Education
Council (DEC), the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Indian Nursing
Council (INC), the Medical Council of India (MCI), the National Council for Teacher
Education (NCTE), the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), etc. and the State Higher
Education Councils. f) “District Level Anti-Ragging Committee” means the Committee,
headed by the District Magistrate, constituted by the State Government, for the control
and elimination of ragging in institutions within the jurisdiction of the district. g) “Head
of the institution” means the Vice-Chancellor in case of a university or a deemed to be
university, the Principal or the Director or such other designation as the executive head of
the institution or the college is referred. h) “Fresher” means a student who has been
admitted to an institution and who is undergoing his/her first year of study in such
institution. i) “Institution” means a higher educational institution including, but not
limited to an university, a deemed to be university, a college, an institute, an institution of
national importance set up by an Act of Parliament or a constituent unit of such

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institution, imparting higher education beyond 12 years of schooling leading to, but not
necessarily culminating in, a degree (graduate, postgraduate and/or higher level) and/or to
a university diploma. j) “NAAC” means the National Academic and Accreditation
Council established by the Commission under section 12(ccc) of the Act; k) “State Level
Monitoring Cell” means the body constituted by the State Government for the control and
elimination of ragging in institutions within the jurisdiction of the State, established
under a State Law or on the advice of the Central Government, as the case may be.

(2) Words and expressions used and not defined herein but defined in the Act or in the
General Clauses Act, 1887, shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in the
Act or in the General Clauses Act, 1887, as the case may be.

5. Measures for prohibition of ragging at the institution level:-

a) No institution or any part of it thereof, including its elements, including, but not b)
All institutions shall take action in accordance with these Regulations against those
found guilty of ragging and/or abetting ragging, actively or passively, or being part of a
conspiracy to promote ragging.

6 Measures for prevention of ragging at the institution level.-

6.1 An institution shall take the following steps in regard to admission or registration

of students; namely, a) Every public declaration of intent by any institution, in any

electronic, audiovisual or print or any other media, for admission of students to any
course of study shall expressly provide that ragging is totally prohibited in the institution,
and anyone found guilty of ragging and/or abetting ragging, whether actively or
passively, or being a part of a conspiracy to promote ragging, is liable to be punished in
accordance with these Regulations as well as under the provisions of any penal law for
the time being in force.

b) The brochure of admission/instruction booklet or the prospectus, whether in print or

electronic format, shall prominently print these Regulations in full. Provided that the
institution shall also draw attention to any law concerning ragging and its consequences,
as may be applicable to the institution publishing such brochure of admission/instruction
booklet or the prospectus. Provided further that the telephone numbers of the Anti-
Ragging Helpline and all the important functionaries in the institution, including but not
limited to the Head of the institution, faculty members, members of the Anti-Ragging
Committees and Anti-Ragging Squads, District and Sub-Divisional authorities, Wardens
of hostels, and other functionaries or authorities where relevant, shall be published in the
brochure of admission/instruction booklet or the prospectus.

c) Where an institution is affiliated to a University and publishes a brochure of

admission/instruction booklet or a prospectus, the affiliating university shall ensure that
the affiliated institution shall comply with the provisions of clause (a) and clause (b) of
Regulation 6.1 of these Regulations.

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d) The application form for admission, enrolment or registration shall contain an
affidavit, mandatorily in English and in Hindi and/or in one of the regional languages
known to the applicant, as provided in the English language in Annexure I to these
Regulations, to be filled up and signed by the applicant to the effect that he/she has read
and understood the provisions of these Regulations as well as the provisions of any other
law for the time being in force, and is aware of the prohibition of ragging and the
punishments prescribed, both under penal laws as well as under these Regulations and
also affirm to the effect that he/she has not been expelled and/or debarred by any
institution and further aver that he/she would not indulge, actively or passively, in the act
or abet the act of ragging and if found guilty of ragging and/or abetting ragging, is liable
to be proceeded against under these Regulations or under any penal law or any other law
for the time being in force and such action would include but is not limited to debarment
or expulsion of such student.

e) The application form for admission, enrolment or registration shall contain an

affidavit, mandatorily in English and in Hindi and/or in one of the regional languages
known to the parents/guardians of the applicant, as provided in the English language in
Annexure I to these Regulations, to be filled up and signed by the parents/guardians of
the applicant to the effect that he/she has read and understood the provisions of these
Regulations as well as the provisions of any other law for the time being in force, and is
aware of the prohibition of ragging and the punishments prescribed, both under penal
laws as well as under these Regulations and also affirm to the effect that his/her ward has
not been expelled and/or debarred by any institution and further aver that his/her ward
would not indulge, actively or passively, in the act or abet the act of ragging and if found
guilty of ragging and/or abetting ragging, his/her ward is liable to be proceeded against
under these Regulations or under any penal law or any other law for the time being in
force and such action would include but is not limited to debarment or expulsion of
his/her ward.

f) The application for admission shall be accompanied by a document in the form of, or
annexed to, the School Leaving Certificate/Transfer Certificate/Migration
Certificate/Character Certificate reporting on the inter-personal/social behavioral pattern
of the applicant, to be issued by the school or institution last attended by the applicant, so
that the institution can thereafter keep watch on the applicant, if admitted, whose
behaviour has been commented in such document.

g) A student seeking admission to a hostel forming part of the institution, or seeking to

reside in any temporary premises not forming part of the institution, including a private
commercially managed lodge or hostel, shall have to submit additional affidavits
countersigned by his/her parents/guardians in the form prescribed in Annexure I and
Annexure II to these Regulations respectively along with his/her application.

h) Before the commencement of the academic session in any institution, the Head of the
Institution shall convene and address a meeting of various functionaries/agencies, such as
Hostel Wardens, representatives of students, parents/ guardians, faculty, district
administration including the police, to discuss the measures to be taken to prevent

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ragging in the institution and steps to be taken to identify those indulging in or abetting
ragging and punish them.

i) The institution shall, to make the community at large and the students in particular
aware of the dehumanizing effect of ragging, and the approach of the institution towards
those indulging in ragging, prominently display posters depicting the provisions of penal
law applicable to incidents of ragging, and the provisions of these Regulations and also
any other law for the time being in force, and the punishments thereof, shall be
prominently displayed on Notice Boards of all departments, hostels and other buildings
as well as at places, where students normally gather and at places, known to be
vulnerable to occurrences of ragging incidents.

j) The institution shall request the media to give adequate publicity to the law prohibiting
ragging and the negative aspects of ragging and the institution’s resolve to ban ragging
and punish those found guilty without fear or favour.

k) The institution shall identify, properly illuminate and keep a close watch on all
locations known to be vulnerable to occurrences of ragging incidents.

l) The institution shall tighten security in its premises, especially at vulnerable places and
intense policing by Anti-Ragging Squad, referred to in these Regulations and volunteers,
if any, shall be resorted to at such points at odd hours during the first few months of the
academic session.

m) The institution shall utilize the vacation period before the start of the new academic
year to launch a publicity campaign against ragging through posters, leaflets and such
other means, as may be desirable or required, to promote the objectives of these
Regulations.

n) The faculties/departments/units of the institution shall have induction arrangements,

including those which anticipate, identify and plan to meet any special needs of any
specific section of students, in place well in advance of the beginning of the academic
year with an aim to promote the objectives of this Regulation.

o) Every institution shall engage or seek the assistance of professional counsellors

before the commencement of the academic session, to be available when required by the
institution, for the purposes of offering counselling to freshers and to other students after
the commencement of the academic year.

p) The head of the institution shall provide information to the local police and local
authorities, the details of every privately commercially managed hostels or lodges used
for residential purposes by students enrolled in the institution and the head of the
institution shall also ensure that the Anti-Ragging Squad shall ensure vigil in such
locations to prevent the occurrence of ragging therein.

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6.2 An institution shall, on admission or enrolment or registration of students, take the
following steps, namely;

a) Every fresh student admitted to the institution shall be given a printed leaflet detailing
to whom he/she has to turn to for help and guidance for various purposes including
addresses and telephone numbers, so as to enable the student to contact the concerned
person at any time, if and when required, of the Anti-Ragging Helpline referred to in
these Regulations, Wardens, Head of the institution, all members of the anti-ragging
squads and committees, relevant district and police authorities.

b) The institution, through the leaflet specified in clause (a) of Regulation 6.2 of these
Regulations shall explain to the freshers, the arrangements made for their induction and
orientation which promote efficient and effective means of integrating them fully as
students with those already admitted o the institution in earlier years.

c) The leaflet specified in clause (a) of Regulation 6.2 of these Regulations shall inform
the freshers about their rights as bona fide students of the institution and clearly
instructing them that they should desist from doing anything, with or against their will,
even if ordered to by the seniors students, and that any attempt of ragging shall be
promptly reported to the Anti-ragging Squad or to the Warden or to the Head of the
institution, as the case may be.

d) The leaflet specified in clause (a) of Regulation 6.2 of these Regulations shall contain
a calendar of events and activities laid down by the institution to facilitate and
complement familiarization of freshers with the academic environment of the institution.

e) The institution shall, on the arrival of senior students after the first week or after the
second week, as the case may be, schedule orientation programmes as follows, namely;
(i) joint sensitization programme and counselling of both freshers and senior students by
a professional counsellor, referred to in clause (o) of Regulation 6.1 of these Regulations;
(ii) joint orientation programme of freshers and seniors to be addressed by the Head of
the institution and the anti -ragging committee;(iii) organization on a large scale of
cultural, sports and other activities to provide a platform for the freshers and seniors to
interact in the presence of faculty members ; (iv) in the hostel, the warden should address
all students; and may request two junior colleagues from the college faculty to assist the
warden by becoming resident tutors for a temporary duration.(v) as far as possible faculty
members should dine with the hostel residents in their respective hostels to instil a feeling
of confidence among the freshers.

f) The institution shall set up appropriate committees, including the course-in charge,
student advisor, Wardens and some senior students as its members, to actively monitor,
promote and regulate healthy interaction between the freshers, junior students and senior
students.

g) Freshers or any other student(s), whether being victims, or witnesses, in any incident
of ragging, shall be encouraged to report such occurrence, and the identity of such

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informants shall be protected and shall not be subject to any adverse consequence only
for the reason for having reported such incidents.

h) Each batch of freshers, on arrival at the institution, shall be divided into small groups
and each such group shall be assigned to a member of the faculty, who shall interact
individually with each member of the group every day for ascertaining the problems or
difficulties, if any, faced by the fresher in the institution and shall extend necessary help
to the fresher in overcoming the same.

i) It shall be the responsibility of the member of the faculty assigned to the group of
freshers, to coordinate with the Wardens of the hostels and to make surprise visits to the
rooms in such hostels, where a member or members of the group are lodged; and such
member of faculty shall maintain a diary of his/her interaction with the freshers under his/
her charge.

j) Freshers shall be lodged, as far as may be, in a separate hostel block, and where such
facilities are not available, the institution shall ensure that access of seniors to
accommodation allotted to freshers is strictly monitored by wardens, security guards and
other staff of the institution.

k) A round the clock vigil against ragging in the hostel premises, in order to prevent
ragging in the hostels after the classes are over, shall be ensured by the institution.

l) It shall be the responsibility of the parents/guardians of freshers to promptly bring any

instance of ragging to the notice of the Head of the Institution.

m) Every student studying in the institution and his/her parents/guardians shall provide
the specific affidavits required under clauses (d), (e) and (g) of Regulation 6.1 of these
Regulations at the time of admission or registration, as the case may be, during each
academic year.

n) Every institution shall obtain the affidavit from every student as referred to above in
clause (m) of Regulation 6.2 and maintain a proper record of the same and to ensure its
safe upkeep thereof, including maintaining the copies of the affidavit in an electronic
form, to be accessed easily when required either by the Commission or any of the
Councils or by the institution or by the affiliating University or by any other person or
organization authorized to do so.

o) Every student at the time of his/her registration shall inform the institution about
his/her place of residence while pursuing the course of study, and in case the student has
not decided his/her place of residence or intends to change the same, the details of his
place of residence shall be provided immediately on deciding the same.; an d specifically
in regard to a private commercially managed lodge or hostel where he/she has taken up
residence.

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p) The Commission shall maintain an appropriate data base to be created out of
affidavits, affirmed by each student and his/her parents/guardians and stored
electronically by the institution. Such database shall also function as a record of ragging
complaints received, and the status of the action taken thereon.

q) The database shall be made available by Commission to the non-governmental agency

to be nominated by the Central Government, to build confidence in the public and also to
provide information of non compliance to the Councils and to such bodies as may be
authorized by the Commission or by the Central Government.

r) The Head of the institution shall, at the end of each academic year, send a letter to the
parents/guardians of the students who are completing their first year in the institution,
informing them about these Regulations and any law for the time being in force
prohibiting ragging and the punishments thereof as well as punishments prescribed under
the penal laws, and appealing to them to impress upon their wards to desist from
indulging in ragging on their return to the institution at the beginning of the academic
session next.

6.3 Every institution shall constitute the following bodies; namely,

a) Every institution shall constitute a Committee to be known as the Anti-Ragging

Committee to be nominated and headed by the Head of the institution, and consisting of
representatives of civil and police administration, local media, Non Government
Organizations involved in youth activities, representatives of faculty members,
representatives of parents, representatives of students belonging to the freshers' category
as well as senior students, non-teaching staff; and shall have a diverse mix of
membership in terms of levels as well as gender.

b) It shall be the duty of the Anti-Ragging Committee to ensure compliance with the
provisions of these Regulations as well as the provisions of any law for the time being in
force concerning ragging; and also to monitor and oversee the performance of the Anti-
Ragging Squad in prevention of ragging in the institution.

c) Every institution shall also constitute a smaller body to be known as the Anti- Ragging
Squad to be nominated by the Head of the Institution with such representation as may be
considered necessary for maintaining vigil, oversight and patrolling functions and shall
remain mobile, alert and active at all times. Provided that the Anti-Ragging Squad shall
have representation of various members of the campus community and shall have no
outside representation.

d) It shall be the duty of the Anti-Ragging Squad to be called upon to make surprise raids
on hostels, and other places vulnerable to incidents of, and having the potential of,
ragging and shall be empowered to inspect such places.

e) It shall also be the duty of the Anti-Ragging Squad to conduct an on-the-spot enquiry
into any incident of ragging referred to it by the Head of the institution or any member of

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the faculty or any member of the staff or any student or any parent or guardian or any
employee of a service provider or by any other person, as the case may be; and the
enquiry report along with recommendations shall be submitted to the Anti-Ragging
Committee for action under clause (a) of Regulation 9.1. Provided that the Anti-Ragging
Squad shall conduct such enquiry observing a fair and transparent procedure and the
principles of natural justice and after giving adequate opportunity to the student or
students accused of ragging and other witnesses to place before it the facts, documents
and views concerning the incident of ragging, and considering such other relevant
information as may be required.

f) Every institution shall, at the end of each academic year, in order to promote the
objectives of these Regulations, constitute a Mentoring Cell consisting of students
volunteering to be Mentors for freshers, in the succeeding academic year; and there shall
be as many levels or tiers of Mentors as the number of batches in the institution, at the
rate of one Mentor for six freshers and one Mentor of a higher level for six Mentors of
the lower level.

g) Every University shall constitute a body to be known as Monitoring Cell on Ragging,

which shall coordinate with the affiliated colleges and institutions under the domain of
the University to achieve the objectives of these Regulations; and the Monitoring Cell
shall call for reports from the Heads of institutions in regard to the activities of the Anti-
Ragging Committees, Anti - Ragging Squads, and the Mentoring Cells at the institutions,
and it shall also keep itself abreast of the decisions of the District level Anti-Ragging
Committee headed by the District Magistrate.

h) The Monitoring Cell shall also review the efforts made by institutions to publicize
anti-ragging measures, soliciting of affidavits from parents/guardians and from students,
each academic year, to abstain from ragging activities or willingness to be penalized for
violations; and shall function as the prime mover for initiating action on the part of the
appropriate authorities of the university for amending the Statutes or Ordinances or Bye-
laws to facilitate the implementation of anti-ragging measures at the level of the
institution.

6.4 Every institution shall take the following other measures, namely;

a) Each hostel or a place where groups of students reside, forming part of the institution,
shall have a full-time Warden, to be appointed by the institution as per the eligibility
criteria laid down for the post reflecting both the command and control aspects of
maintaining discipline and preventing incidents of ragging within the hostel, as well as
the softer skills of counseling and communicating with the youth outside the class-room
situation; and who shall reside within the hostel, or at the very least, in the close vicinity
thereof.

b) The Warden shall be accessible at all hours and be available on telephone and other
modes of communication, and for the purpose the Warden shall be provided with a

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mobile phone by the institution, the number of which shall be publicized among all
students residing in the hostel.

c) The institution shall review and suitably enhance the powers of Wardens; and the
security personnel posted in hostels shall be under the direct control of the Warden and
their performance shall be assessed by them.

d) The professional counsellors referred to under clause (o) of Regulation 6.1 of these
Regulations shall, at the time of admission, counsel freshers and/or any other student(s)
desiring counselling, in order to prepare them for the life ahead, particularly in regard to
the life in hostels and to the extent possible, also involve parents and teachers in the
counselling sessions.

e) The institution shall undertake measures for extensive publicity against ragging by
means of audio-visual aids, counselling sessions, workshops, painting and design
competitions among students and such other measures, as it may deem fit.

f) The faculty of the institution and its non-teaching staff, which includes, but is not
limited to the administrative staff, contract employees, security guards and employees of
service providers providing services within the institution, shall be sensitized towards the
ills of ragging, its prevention and the consequences thereof.

g) The institution shall obtain an undertaking from every employee of the institution
including all teaching and non-teaching members of staff, contract labour employed in
the premises either for running canteen or as watch and ward staff or for cleaning or
maintenance of the buildings/lawns and employees of service providers providing
services within the institution, that he/she would report promptly any case of ragging
which comes to his/her notice.

h) The institution shall make a provision in the service rules of its employees for issuing
certificates of appreciation to such members of the staff who report incidents of ragging,
which will form part of their service record.

i) The institution shall give necessary instructions to the employees of the canteens and
messing, whether that of the institution or that of a service provider providing this
service, or their employers, as the case may be, to keep a strict vigil in the area of their
work and to report the incidents of ragging to the Head of the institution or members of
the Anti-Ragging Squad or members of the Anti-Ragging Committee or the Wardens, as
may be required.

j) All Universities awarding a degree in education at any level, shall be required to ensure
that institutions imparting instruction in such courses or conducting training programme
for teachers include inputs relating to anti-ragging and the appreciation of the relevant
human rights, as well as inputs on topics regarding sensitization against corporal
punishments and checking of bullying amongst students, so that every teacher is
equipped to handle at least the rudiments of the counselling approach.

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k) Discreet random surveys shall be conducted amongst the freshers every fortnight
during the first three months of the academic year to verify and crosscheck whether the
institution is indeed free of ragging or not and for the purpose the institution may design
its own methodology of conducting such surveys.

l) The institution shall cause to have an entry, apart from those relating to general conduct
and behaviour, made in the Migration/Transfer Certificate issued to the student while
leaving the institution, as to whether the student has been punished for committing or
abetting an act of ragging, as also whether the student has displayed persistent violent or
aggressive behaviour or any inclination to harm others, during his course of study in the
institution.

m) Notwithstanding anything contained in these Regulations with regard to obligations

and responsibilities pertaining to the authorities or members o bodies prescribed above, it
shall be the general collective responsibility of all levels and sections of authorities or
functionaries including members of the faculty and employees of the institution, whether
regular or temporary, and employees of service providers providing service within the
institution, to prevent or to act promptly against the occurrence of ragging or any incident
of ragging which comes to their notice.

n) The Heads of institutions affiliated to a University or a constituent of the University, as

the case may be, shall, during the first three months of an academic year, submit a weekly
report on the status of compliance with Anti-Ragging measures under these Regulations,
and a monthly report on such status thereafter, to the Vice-Chancellor of the University to
which the institution is affiliated to or recognized by.

o) The Vice Chancellor of each University shall submit fortnightly reports of the
University, including those of the Monitoring Cell on Ragging in case of an affiliating
university, to the State Level Monitoring Cell.

7. Action to be taken by the Head of the institution.-

On receipt of the recommendation of the Anti Ragging Squad or on receipt of any

information concerning any reported incident of ragging, the Head of institution shall
immediately determine if a case under the penal laws is made out and if so, either on his
own or through a member of the Anti-Ragging Committee authorized by him in this
behalf, proceed to file a First Information Report (FIR), within twenty four hours of
receipt of such information or recommendation, with the police and local authorities,
under the appropriate penal provisions relating to one or more of the following, namely;

i. Abetment to ragging;

ii. Criminal conspiracy to rag;

iii. Unlawful assembly and rioting while ragging;

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iv. Public nuisance created during ragging;

v. Violation of decency and morals through ragging;

vi. Injury to body, causing hurt or grievous hurt;

vii. Wrongful restraint;

viii. Wrongful confinement;

ix. Use of criminal force;

x. Assault as well as sexual offences or unnatural offences;

xi. Extortion;

xii. Criminal trespass;

xiii. Offences against property;

xiv. Criminal intimidation;

xv. Attempts to commit any or all of the above mentioned offences against the victim(s);

xvi. Threat to commit any or all of the above mentioned offences against the victim(s);

xvii. Physical or psychological humiliation;

xviii. All other offences following from the definition of “Ragging”.

Provided that the Head of the institution shall forthwith report the occurrence of the
incident of ragging to the District Level Anti-Ragging Committee and the Nodal officer
of the affiliating University, if the institution is an affiliated institution.

Provided further that the institution shall also continue with its own enquiry initiated
under clause 9 of these Regulations and other measures without waiting for action on the
part of the police/local authorities and such remedial action shall be initiated and
completed immediately and in no case later than a period of seven days of the reported
occurrence of the incident of ragging.

8. Duties and Responsibilities of the Commission and the Councils.-

8.1 The Commission shall, with regard to providing facilitating communication of

information regarding incidents of ragging in any institution, take the following steps,
namely;

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a) The Commission shall establish, fund and operate, a toll-free Anti-Ragging Helpline,
operational round the clock, which could be accessed by students in distress owing to
ragging related incidents.

b) Any distress message received at the Anti-Ragging Helpline shall be simultaneously

relayed to the Head of the Institution, the Warden of the Hostels, the Nodal Officer of the
affiliating University, if the incident reported has taken place in an institution affiliated to
a University, the concerned District authorities and if so required, the District Magistrate,
and the Superintendent of Police, and shall also be web enabled so as to be in the public
domain simultaneously for the media and citizens to access it.

c) The Head of the institution shall be obliged to act immediately in response to the
information received from the Anti-Ragging Helpline as at sub-clause (b) of this clause.

d) In order to enable a student or any person to communicate with the Anti- Ragging
Helpline, every institution shall permit unrestricted access to mobile phones and public
phones in hostels and campuses, other than in class-rooms, seminar halls, library, and in
such other places that the institution may deem it necessary to restrict the use of phones.

e) The telephone numbers of the Anti-Ragging Helpline and all the important
functionaries in every institution, Heads of institutions, faculty members, members of the
anti-ragging committees and anti ragging squads, district and sub-divisional authorities
and state authorities, Wardens of hostels, and other functionaries or authorities where
relevant, shall be widely disseminated for access or to seek help in emergencies.

f) The Commission and respective council shall maintain an appropriate data base to be
created out of affidavits, affirmed by each student and his/her parents/guardians and
stored electronically by the institution through an agency approved by the Ministry of
Human Resource Development, Government of India; and such database shall also
function as a record of ragging complaints received, and the status of the action taken
thereon.

g) The Commission shall make available the database to a non-governmental agency to

be nominated by the Central Government, to build confidence in the public and also to
provide information of non compliance with these Regulations to the Councils and to
such bodies as may be authorized by the Commission or by the Central Government.

8.2 The Commission shall take the following regulatory steps, namely;

a) The Commission shall make it mandatory for the institutions to incorporate in their
prospectus, the directions of the Central Government or the State Level Monitoring
Committee with regard to prohibition and consequences of ragging, and that non-
compliance with these Regulations and directions so provided, shall be considered as
lowering of academic standards by the institution, therefore making it liable for
appropriate action.

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b) The Commission shall verify that the institutions strictly comply with the requirement
of getting the affidavits from the students and their parents/guardians as envisaged under
these Regulations.

c) The Commission shall include a specific condition in the Utilization Certificate, in

respect of any financial assistance or grants-in-aid to any institution under any of the
general or special schemes of the Commission that the institution has complied with the
anti-ragging measures.

d) Any incident of ragging in an institution shall adversely affect its accreditation,

ranking or grading by NAAC or by any other authorized accreditation agencies while
assessing the institution for accreditation, ranking or grading purposes.

e) The Commission shall constitute an Inter-Council Committee, consisting of

representatives of the various Councils, the Non-Governmental agency responsible for
monitoring the database maintained by the Commission under clause (g) of Regulation
8.1 and such other bodies in higher education, to coordinate and monitor the anti-ragging
measures in institutions across the country and to make recommendations from time to
time; and shall meet at least once in six months each year.

f) The Commission shall institute an Anti-Ragging Cell within the Commission as an

institutional mechanism to provide secretarial support for collection of information and
monitoring, and to coordinate with the State Level Monitoring Cell and University level
Committees for effective implementation of anti-ragging measures, and the Cell shall
also coordinate with the Non-Governmental agency responsible for monitoring the
database maintained by the Commission appointed under clause (g) of Regulation 8.1.

9. Administrative action in the event of ragging.-

9.1 The institution shall punish a student found guilty of ragging after following the
procedure and in the manner prescribed herein under:

a) The Anti-Ragging Committee of the institution shall take an appropriate decision, in

regard to punishment or otherwise, depending on the facts of each incident of ragging and
nature and gravity of the incident of ragging established in the recommendations of the
Anti-Ragging Squad.

b) The Anti-Ragging Committee may, depending on the nature and gravity of the guilt
established by the Anti-Ragging Squad, award, to those found guilty, one or more of the
following punishments, namely;

i. Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges.

ii. Withholding/ withdrawing scholarship/ fellowship and other benefits.

iii. Debarring from appearing in any test/ examination or other evaluation process.

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iv. Withholding results.

v. Debarring from representing the institution in any regional, national or international

meet, tournament, youth festival, etc.

vi. Suspension/ expulsion from the hostel.

vii. Cancellation of admission.

viii. Rustication from the institution for period ranging from 1 to 4 semesters.

ix. Expulsion from the institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other
institution for a specified period.

x. Fine which may extend up to Rs.2.5 Lakh. Provided that where the persons committing
or abetting the act of ragging are not identified, the institution shall resort to collective
punishment.

c) An appeal against the order of punishment by the Anti-Ragging Committee shall lie,

i. in case of an order of an institution, affiliated to or constituent part, of a University, to

the Vice-Chancellor of the University;

ii. in case of an order of a University, to its Chancellor.

iii. in case of an institution of national importance created by an Act of Parliament, to the

Chairman or Chancellor of the institution, as the case may be.

9.2 Where an institution, being constituent of, affiliated to or recognized by a University,

fails to comply with any of the provisions of these Regulations or fails to curb ragging
effectively, such University may take any one or more of the following actions, namely;

i. Withdrawal of affiliation/recognition or other privileges conferred.

ii. Prohibiting such institution from presenting any student or students then undergoing
any programme of study therein for the award of any degree/diploma of the University.
Provided that where an institution is prohibited from presenting its student or students,
the Commission shall make suitable arrangements for the other students so as to ensure
that such students are able to pursue their academic studies.

iii. Withholding grants allocated to it by the university, if any

iv. Withholding any grants canalized through the university to the institution.

v. Any other appropriate penalty within the powers of the university.

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9.3 Where in the opinion of the appointing authority, a lapse is attributable to any
member of the faulty or staff of the institution, in the matter of reporting or taking prompt
action to prevent an incident of ragging or who display an apathetic or insensitive attitude
towards complaints of ragging, or who fail to take timely steps, whether required under
these Regulations or otherwise, to prevent an incident or incidents of ragging, then such
authority shall initiate departmental enquiry, in accordance with the prescribed procedure
of the institution, against such member of the faulty or staff. Provided that where such
lapse is attributable to the Head of the institution, the authority designated to appoint such
Head shall take such action.

9.5 The Commission shall, in respect of any institution that fails to take adequate steps to
prevent ragging or fails to act in accordance with these Regulations or fails to punish
perpetrators or incidents of ragging suitably, take one of more of the following measures,
namely;

i. Withdrawal of declaration of fitness to receive grants under section 12B of the Act.

ii. Withholding any grant allocated.

iii. Declaring the institution ineligible for consideration for any assistance under any of
the general or special assistance programmes of the Commission.

iv. Informing the general public, including potential candidates for admission, through a
notice displayed prominently in the newspapers or other suitable media and posted on the
website of the Commission, declaring that the institution does not possess the minimum
academic standards.

v. Taking such other action within its powers as it may deem fit and impose such other
penalties as may be provided in the Act for such duration of time as the institution
complies with the provisions of these Regulations. Provided that the action taken under
this clause by the Commission against any institution shall be shared with all Councils.

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