Kerala High Court Directs State To Complete Steps For Tabling Anti-Ragging Amendment Bill Within Four Weeks

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (October 30) asked the State government to complete within four weeks, all steps to be fulfilled before tabling the Anti-Ragging Amendment Bill before the State legislature. 

The Special Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice C. Jayachandran gave the direction in a PIL moved by KeLSA (Kerala State Legal Service Authority), seeking stronger laws to combat the menace of ragging within educational institutions.

Previously, the Court was informed that the Bill was placed before the Law department for scrutiny. The Court had then given 4 weeks' time to complete the process.

Today, the State submitted that the Chief Minister has accorded approval for the proposed legislation under Rule 45 of the Kerala Government Business Rules. Further, it submitted that the file will now again be sent to the Law Department for necessary actions following which, it will be placed before the Council of Ministers.

The Bench thus directed the State to complete all the steps within four weeks. It ordered,

"In this petition, several orders are passed from march 2025. In these orders the submission of the counsel for the parties, the response of the state government is unanimous on the urgency of the steps to be taken. As an extension of this unanimous opinion for urgent measures, we direct that all such administrative measures which are required before placing the bill in the house shall be completed within 4 weeks from today."

KeLSA had flagged 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

Click Here To Read/ Download Interim Order