Ragging is a form of abuse on newcomers to educational institutions.
Legal definition
The legal definition is seen as:
“‘Ragging’ means the doing of any act which causes, or is likely to cause any physical, psychological or physiological harm of apprehension or shame or embarrassment to a student, and includes– (a) teasing or abusing of playing Practical joke on, or causing hurt to any student. or (b) asking any student to do any act, or perform any thing, which he/she would not, in the ordinary course, be willing to do or perform.”
The following criminal activities can be categorised under ragging (especially if they take place inside a school or college):
- Unlawful coercion
- Criminal intimidation
- Assault
- Battery
- Sexual abuse
- Rape
- Murder
Ragging is usually conducted during a fixed period in most institutions, which may range from one day to almost the whole year.
^ Supreme Court of India Judgment 2001
In many colleges, like IIT Bombay and IIT Hyderabad, ragging has been strictly banned.
Anti-ragging movement
With the situation of ragging worsening yearly, there is emerging a spontaneous anti-ragging movement in India. Several voluntary organizations have emerged, who conduct drives for public awareness and arrange for support to victims.
Online groups like Coalition to Uproot Ragging from India (CURE), Stopragging, No Ragging Foundation became the major Anti Ragging groups on the Internet. Among them, the No Ragging Foundation has transformed into a complete NGO and got registered as Society Against Violence in Education (SAVE) which is India’s first registered Anti Ragging non profit organization (NGO).[10] [11][12] These groups are working on issues related to ragging. Each of them is running anti ragging websites and online groups.
The Indian media has been playing a crucial role by exposing ragging incidents and the indifference of many concerned institutions towards curbing the act. The Honbl. Supreme Court of India has directed, in its interim judgement, that that action may be taken even against negligent institutions.[6]
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