UGC, KeLSA Submit Proposals Before Kerala High Court On Draft Suggestions For Amending Anti-Ragging Act, Rules

The Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) have 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.A Special Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice C. Jayachandran was considering a petition moved by KeLSA regarding the menace of ragging in the State.The counsel for UGC proposed that a time limit may be imposed for decision of the anti-ragging committee as well as for appeal. The counsel also suggested that a Special Court may be formed for dealing with the penal offences. UGC Counsel also proposed inclusion of autonomous, affiliated colleges, hostels and lodges in the definition clause. UGC suggested that the hostel warden maybe a member in the anti-ragging committee.The counsel for KeLSA suggested that the concept of 'freshers' in the UGC regulations and the draft be removed and all students irrespective of their seniority should be given protection under the new law. KeLSA also suggested that wilful 'concealment of offence' can be added into the definition of 'deemed abetment', which is already mentioned in Section 7 of the present Act.KeLSA made another suggestion that one of its nominee can be included in the State Monitoring Cell.The Director General of Prosecution (DGP) told the Court that the suggestions are being placed before the committee and ultimately it is for the drafting committee to examine and recommend the amendments.When the matter came up for consideration before the Bench on Wednesday (July 23), the counsel for KeLSA informed that she has filed an affidavit detailing two instances of ragging that occurred in Wayanad and Malappuram districts. The counsel told the Court the same was in sealed covers since it contained details about children in conflict with law.The counsel also informed the Court that an FIR has been filed in one of the cases in Wayanad and reports in both the cases were received with the support of the district legal services authorities.Thereafter, the Court asked the DGP regarding timelines for the final report of the drafting committee and he replied that it would take at least 2 months for the Committee to consult the stakeholders and to finalise the draft report. Thereafter, it would be placed before the government departments for further consideration.Noting that this process would take some time, the Court gave liberty to KeLSA move a separate application, if any urgent intervention is required in the two instances mentioned.The matter would be listed after two months.BackgroundA 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 OthersCase No: WP(C) No. 8600 of 2025

UGC, KeLSA Submit Proposals Before Kerala High Court On Draft Suggestions For Amending Anti-Ragging Act, Rules

K. Salma Jennath

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