1. Authority : MCI notification No. MCI-34(1)/2009-Med./25453 dated 3rd August, 2009

2. Introduction: Ragging in India is a damaging form of interaction of the seniors in college or school with the juniors, new entrants or first year students. Practice of familiarising beginners with their seniors has now turned into a potent tool for ill-treating and punishing the freshers. Under the pretext of fun, a fresher student is often assaulted and intimidated by his seniors. This ritualised torture leaves an indelible impression on his mind. After experiencing the evil of ragging, a student develops a feeling of revenge for his ‘unjustified harassment’ and derives pleasure in ragging his juniors on his turn. So the trend goes on and students continue to suffer.Gouri Devi Institute of Medical Sciences & Hospital, hereinafter referred to as GIMSH, recognizes ragging as a social evil and pledges to take all necessary steps to curb ragging.

3. Objective : To root out ragging in all its forms from GIMSH by prohibiting it by law, preventing its occurrence by following the provisions of these Regulations of MCI and punishing those who indulge in ragging as provided for in the Regulations and the appropriate law in force.

4. Definitions:-

4.1 “Medical College” means an institution, whether known as such or by any other name, which provides for a programme, beyond 12 years of schooling, for obtaining recognized MBBS qualification from a university and which, in accordance with the rules and regulations of such university, is recognized as competent to provide for such programmes of study and present students undergoing such programmes of study for the examination for the award of recognized MBBS/PG Degree/Diploma qualifications.

4.2 “Head of the institution” means the Dean/Principal/Director of the concerned medical college/institution.

4.3 “Ragging” includes the following:   Any conduct whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of harassing, 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.

4.4 MCI means MCI constituted in terms of Section 3 of Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.

4.5 “University” means a university established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act, an institution deemed to be university under Section 3 of the UGC Act,1956, or an institution specially empowered by an Act of Parliament to confer or grant degrees.

5. Punishable ingredients of Ragging

• Abetment to ragging;
• Criminal conspiracy to rag;
• Unlawful assembly and rioting while ragging;
• Public nuisance created during ragging;
• Violation of decency and morals through ragging;
• Injury to body, causing hurt or grievous hurt;
• Wrongful restraint;
• Wrongful confinement;
• Use of criminal force;
• Extortion;
• Criminal trespass;
• Offences against property;
• Criminal intimidation;
• Physical or psychological humiliation.
• Assault as well as sexual offences or even unnatural offences;
• Attempts to commit any or all of the above mentioned offences against the victim(s);
• All other offences following from the definition of “Ragging”.

6. Measures for prohibition of ragging

 6.1 GIMSH shall strictly observe the provisions of the Act of the Central Government and the State Governments, if any, or if enacted and / or for the time being in force, considering ragging as a cognizable offence under the law at par with rape and other atrocities against women and ill-treatment of persons belonging to the SC/ST and prohibiting ragging in all its forms in GIMSH and all sister institutions.

6.2 Ragging in all its forms shall be totally banned in GIMSH including its departments, constituent units, all its premises (academic, residential, sports, canteen, etc) and its sister organisations whether located within the campus or outside and in all means of transportation of students whether public or private.

6.3  GIMSH shall take strict action against those found guilty of ragging and/or of abetting ragging.

7. Measures for prevention of ragging at GIMSH:-

7.1 Before admissions

7.1.1    The advertisement for admissions into GIMSH shall clearly mention that ragging is totally banned / prohibited in GIMSH and anyone found guilty of ragging and/or abetting ragging is liable to be punished appropriately.

7.1.2    The brochure of admission/instruction booklet for candidates shall print in block letters these Regulations in full (including Annexures).

7.1.3    The ‘Prospectus’ and other admission related documents shall incorporate all directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and /or the Central or State Governments as applicable, so that the candidates and their parents/ guardians are sensitized in respect of the prohibition and consequences of ragging.

7.1.4    A Brochure or booklet/leaflet shall be distributed to each student at the beginning of each academic session for obtaining undertaking not to indulge or abet ragging and shall contain the blueprint of prevention and methods of redress. The application form for admission/ enrolment shall have a printed undertaking, to be filled up and signed by the candidate to the effect that he/she is aware of the law regarding prohibition of ragging as well as the punishments, and to the effect that he/she has not been expelled and/or debarred from admission by GIMSH and that he/she, if found guilty of the offence of ragging and/or abetting ragging, is liable to be punished appropriately.

7.1.5    The application form shall also contain a printed undertaking, to be signed by the parent/ guardian of the applicant to the effect that he/ she is also aware of the law in this regard and agrees to abide by the punishment meted out to his/ her ward in case the latter is found guilty of ragging and/or abetting ragging. A database shall be created out of affidavits affirmed by each student and his/her parents/guardians stored electronically, and shall contain the details of each student. The database shall also function as a record of ragging complaints received.

7.1.6    The application for admission shall be accompanied by a document in the form of the School Leaving Certificate/transfer certificate/migration certificate/ Character Certificate which shall include a report on the behavioral pattern of the applicant, so that GIMSH can thereafter keep intense watch upon a student who has a negative entry in this regard.

7.1.7    A student seeking admission to the hostel shall have to submit additional undertaking in the form of Annexure I (both Parts) along with his/ her application for hostel accommodation.

7.1.8   At the commencement of the academic session the Dean/Principal of GIMSH shall convene and address a meeting of various functionaries/agencies, like Wardens, representatives of students, parents/ guardians, faculty, district administration including police, to discuss the measures to be taken to prevent ragging in the Institution and steps to be taken to identify the offenders and punish them suitably. The meeting will be conducted in attendance of the Chairman/Vice-Chairman of GIMSH.

7.1.9    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, big multicolored posters shall be prominently displayed on all Notice Boards of all departments, hostels and other buildings as well as at vulnerable places. Some of such posters shall be of permanent nature in certain vulnerable places.

7.1.10 Apart from placing posters mentioned in sub-clause 7.1.9 above at strategic places, GIMSH shall undertake measures for extensive publicity against ragging by means of audio-visual aids, by holding counseling sessions, workshops, painting and design competitions among students and other methods as it deems fit.

7.1.11 GIMSH shall request the local 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.

7.1.12 GIMSH shall identify, properly illuminate and man all vulnerable locations within it’s premises.

7.1.13 GIMSH shall tighten security in its premises, especially at the vulnerable places. If necessary, intense policing shall be resorted to at such points at odd hours during the early months of the academic session.

7.1.14 GIMSH shall utilize the vacation period before the start of the new academic year to launch wide publicity campaign against ragging through posters, leaflets. seminars, street plays, etc.

7.1.15 The faculties/ departments/ units of GIMSH 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 a clear sense of the main aims and objectives of the induction process. The Principal/Dean of GIMSH shall obtain an undertaking from every employee of the institution including 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 etc. that he/she would report promptly any case of ragging which comes to his/her notice. A provision shall be made in the service rules for issuing certificates of appreciation to such members of the staff who report ragging which will form port of their service record.

7.2.  On admission

7.2.1   In order to reduce the freshers’ dependence on their seniors every fresher admitted to GIMSH shall be given a printed leaflet detailing when and to whom he/she has to turn to for help and guidance for various purposes (including Wardens, Head of the institution, members of the anti-ragging committees, relevant district and police authorities), addresses and telephone numbers of such persons/authorities, etc., so that the fresher need not look up to the seniors for help in such matters and get indebted to them and start doing things, right or wrong, at their behest. GIMSH shall engage or seek the assistance of professional counselors at the time of admissions to counsel `freshers’ in order to prepare them for the life ahead, particularly for adjusting to the life in hostels.

7.2.2   GIMSH through the leaflet mentioned above shall explain to the new entrants the arrangements for their induction and orientation which promote efficient and effective means of integrating them fully as students. The leaflet shall also inform the freshers about their rights as bonafide students of the institution and clearly instructing them that they should desist from doing anything against their will even if ordered by the seniors, and that they have nothing to fear as the institution cares for them and shall not tolerate any atrocities against them.

7.2.3   The leaflet mentioned above 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.

7.2.4   GIMSH shall also organize joint sensitization programmes of ‘freshers’ and seniors in accordance with the MCI notification.

7.2.5   Freshers shall be encouraged to report incidents of ragging, either as victims, or even as witnesses.

7.3.  At the end of the academic year

7.3.1 At the end of every academic year the Dean/Principal/Director shall send a letter to the parents/guardians of the students who are completing the first year informing them about the law regarding ragging and the punishments, and appealing to them to impress upon their wards to desist from indulging in ragging when they come back at the beginning of the next academic session.

7.3.2  At the end of every academic year GIMSH shall form a ‘Mentoring Cell’ consisting of Mentors for the succeeding academic year in accordance with MCI notification.

7.4.  Setting up of Committees and their functions

7.4.1 The Anti-Ragging Committee:- An Anti-Ragging Committee has been formed under the leadership of the Dean of GIMSH to monitor the Anti Ragging activities in GIMSH, to consider the recommendations of the Anti-Ragging Squad and take appropriate decisions, including spelling out suitable punishments to those found guilty.

* To be incorporated after admission of students

7.4.2 Anti-Ragging Squads:- Four Anti-Ragging Squad has been constituted by the Dean of GIMSH  who shall be responsible to implement the principles of the above MCI notification on ground.

Squad-A

Squad-B

Squad-C

Squad-D

7.4.3  Functions and duties of Anti-Ragging Squad-

(a)     To be vigilant all the hours including odd hours all round the campus and other vulnerable places having potential of ragging

(b)     Conduct surprise random checks among freshers to ascertain if the campus is actually free from ragging.

(c)     To condut an on-the-spot enquiry of an act of ragging after being duly instructed by the Dean of GIMSH.

(d)     To ensure that the anti-ragging posters are duly displayed in all designated places.

(e)     To ensure that no unauthorised  person enters the hostel premise.

(f)     To monitor the welfare and activities of the fresh students.

(g)     Any other reasonable anti-ragging activity as deems fit.

7.4.4       Other measures

(a)      GIMSH shall arrange for regular and periodic psychological counseling and orientation for students (for freshers separately, as well as jointly with seniors) by professional counselors during the first three months of the new academic year. This shall be done at the institution and department/ course levels. Parents and teachers shall also be involved in such sessions.

(b)      Full-time warden shall be appointed having both the command and control aspects of maintaining discipline, as well as the softer skills of counseling and communicating with the youth outside the class-room situations. Wardens shall be accessible at all hours and shall be provided with mobile phones and the details of their telephone number shall be widely publicized. The security personnel posted in hostels shall be under the direct control of the Wardens and assessed by them.

(c)      Freshers shall be lodged in a separate hostel block, wherever possible, and where such facilities are not available, GIMSH shall ensure that seniors’ access to freshers’ accommodation is strictly monitored by wardens, security guards and college staff.

(d)      As ragging takes place mostly in the hostels after the classes are over in the college, a round the clock vigil against ragging in the hostel premises shall be provided. The employers/employees of the canteens/mess shall be given necessary instructions to keep strict vigil and to report the incidents of ragging to the college authorities, if any.

(e)  Private commercially managed lodges and hostels shall be registered with the local police authorities, and this shall be done necessarily on the recommendation of the Head of the institution. Local police, local administration and the institutional authorities shall ensure vigil on incidents that may come within the definition of ragging and shall be responsible for action in the event of ragging in such premises, just as they would be for incidents within the campus.

8. Ragging Reporting Procedure:- The authorities of GIMSH shall be responsible to ensure that no incident of ragging takes place in the institution. In case any incident of ragging takes place, the Head of GIMSH shall take prompt and appropriate action against the perpetrator of ragging and the person(s) whose dereliction of duty lead to the incident. 

(a)        If any individual or group of individuals believe/s that he/she/they has/have been subjected to “ragging” or has/have knowledge of any such incidence, shall immediately call and bring it to the notice of the Anti-Ragging Committee/ Squad or shall have the option to file complaint with the Anti-Ragging Committee of GIMSH. Such a complaint may be raised in writing. However, due cognizance will be taken of oral complaint.

(b)        The anti-ragging committee, with due permission of the head of GIMSH will file an FIR with the local police whenever a case of ragging is reported. Notwithstanding the same the committee will conduct it’s own inquiry without waiting for police investigation. Remedial action shall be initiated and completed within 7 days of receiving the complaint. The burden of proof shall be with the perpetrator and not on the victim. 

9. Awardable Punishments at the Medical College/Institution level:-

Depending upon the nature and gravity of the offence as established by the Anti-Ragging Committee of the institution, the possible punishments for those found guilty of ragging at the institution level shall be any one or any combination of the following:

(a)      Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges.

(b)      Withholding/withdrawing scholarship/ fellowship and other benefits

(c)      Debarring from appearing in any test/ examination or other evaluation Process.

(d)      Withholding results

(e)      Debarring from representing the institution in any regional, national or international meet,        tournament, youth festival, etc.

(f)       Suspension/ expulsion from the hostel

(g)      Cancellation of admission.

(h)      Rustication from the institution for period ranging from 1 to 4 semesters

(i)       Expulsion from the institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other institution for a specific period.

(j)       Fine of Rs. 25,000/- and Rs. 1 lakh.

(k)      Collective punishment: When the persons committing or abetting the crime of ragging are not identified, the institution shall resort to collective punishment.

10. Measures for encouraging healthy interaction between freshers and seniors

(a)         The Medical College/Institution /University shall set up appropriate committees including the course-in- charge, student advisor, Warden and some senior students to actively monitor, promote and regulate healthy interaction between the freshers and senior students.

(b)         Freshers’ welcome parties shall be organized in each department by the senior students and the faculty together soon after admissions, preferably within the first two weeks of the beginning of the academic session, for proper introduction to one another and where the talents of the freshers are brought out properly in the presence of the faculty, thus helping them to shed their inferiority complex, if any, and remove their inhibitions.

(c)          The Medical College/Institution /University shall enhance the student-faculty interaction by involving the students in all matters of the institution, except those relating to the actual processes of evaluation and of faculty appointments, so that the students shall feel that they are responsible partners in managing the affairs of the institution and consequently the credit due to the institution for good work/ performance is due to them as well.

ANNEXURE I, Part I

UNDERTAKING BY THE CANDIDATE/STUDENT

1.         I, ________________________________________________________________

S/o. D/o. of Mr./Mrs./Ms._________________________________________, have carefully read and fully understood the law prohibiting ragging and the directions of the Supreme Court and the Central/State Government in this regard.

2. I have received a copy of the MCI Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009.

3. I hereby undertake that-

• I will not indulge in any behavior or act that may come under the definition of ragging,
• I will not participate in or abet or propagate ragging in any form,
• I will not hurt anyone physically or psychologically or cause any other harm.

4. I hereby agree that if found guilty of any aspect of ragging, I may be punished as per the provisions of the MCI Regulations mentioned above and/or as per the law in force.

Signed this ___________________ day of _____________ month of __________year

Signature

Address: _______________

_______________________

_______________________

Name:

(1) Witness:

(2) Witness:

ANNEXURE I, Part II

UNDERTAKING BY PARENT/GUARDIAN

1.         I, ________________________________________________________________

F/o. M/o. G/o__________________________________________________, have carefully read and fully understood the law prohibiting ragging and the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the Central/State Government in this regard as well as the MCI Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009.

2. I assure you that my son/ daughter/ ward will not indulge in any act of ragging.

3. I hereby agree that if he/she is found guilty of any aspect of ragging, he/she may be punished as per the provisions of the MCI Regulations mentioned above and/or as per the law in force.

Signed this ______________ day of __________ month of __________ Year

Signature

Address: _______________

_______________________

_______________________

Name:

(1) Witness:

(2) Witness: