KeLSA Moves PIL In Kerala High Court To Curb Ragging In State, Special Bench To Hear Matter

The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (4th March) said that it will constitute a special bench to hear the issue of ragging in the state. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S. Manu made this order while considering a PIL filed by the Kerala State Legal Service Authority (KeLSA) to curb the issue of ragging in the state.KeLSA, highlighting the recent reported incidents of ragging in the colleges in the state, suggested forming district–level and state-level monitoring committees to ensure effective implementation of the existing anti–ragging laws.It said that the committees should have representatives from the government, legal service institutions and civil society, including teachers and parents. The committee would be tasked with overseeing the implementation of anti–ragging guidelines, regulations and judicial decisions. Further, it was suggested that the educational institutions and relevant governmental departments should submit regular progress reports to the committee to introduce an accountability framework. It is also suggested that a framework should be established where every incident of ragging is immediately flagged and processed through district-level monitoring bodies. It was submitted that there should be a mechanism where complaints can be reported anonymously. It is further suggested to establish a 24x7 toll-free helpline to further enhance accessibility.KeLSA submitted that it can help in conducting a periodic audit of the anti-ragging measures taken at the district and taluk level. KeLSA has also put forward the suggestion of conducting training programs for educational authorities, teachers and student representatives to help them identify early signs of ragging and to create awareness of the relevant legal framework.The petition was moved by Advocate A. Parvathi MenonCase Title: Kerala State Legal Service Authority v Government of Kerala and OthersCase No: WP(C) 8600/ 2025

KeLSA Moves PIL In Kerala High Court To Curb Ragging In State, Special Bench To Hear Matter

Manju Elsa Isac

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