Institution heads may land in jail for failing to stop ragging

The Haryana Prohibition of Ragging in Educational Institution Ordinance, 2012, which came into force on July 5, seeks to impose a fine of up to Rs two lakh in case of schools and colleges, and Rs 5 lakh in case of universities if they failed to comply with the orders, an official spokesman said today.

The spokesman, quoting Education Minister Geeta Bhukkal, said the government has prohibited ragging in all educational institutions.

The government is very serious in checking ragging incidents and now the head of school, college or university would be responsible for stopping and preventing ragging in their institutions.

All students would be required to submit an affidavit at the time of admission that they would refrain from ragging.

The Minister said there would be one or more anti-ragging committees in all educational institutions to oversee compliance of the ordinance.

An act of ragging would attract mandatory suspension of a student for at least two semesters or an academic year besides other punishments. FIRs would also be lodged.