Ragging case: NHRC notice to UP chief secy, DM, SSP

Taking a serious view of an alleged ragging incident at a Delhi Public School hostel in Noida in which two class XI students were injured, the National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Uttar Prdesh Chief Secretary, district magistrate and SSP of Gautam Budh Nagar.
The Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports, carried yesterday, that two students of class XI, were beaten mercilessly by their seniors for protesting against outlawed practice of ragging and reporting the matter to the school authorities.
The incident happened on May 8 when the boys were returning to their hostel after their dinner.

"Observing that the incident raises issue of serious violation of right to life and dignity of the young students, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police, Gautam Budh Nagar calling for reports within four weeks," NHRC said in a statement.
The Commission said ragging has been banned in educational institutions and certain guidelines on recommendations of the Raghvan Committee have been issued in this regard.
The Supreme Court, while deciding the Civil Appeal No 887 of 2009, has also referred to ragging as an ugly scar, which is required to be obliterated from the face of educational institutions.

The school authorities are legally bound and responsible to ensure protection of students from the menace of ragging, the Commission said.
Reportedly, a few days ago too, one of the victim boys had suffered in the hands of his seniors in the name of ragging.
However, the school management, after giving him first aid, had asked him to stay at home for a few days. Even after the May 8 incident, the school management first tried to persuade the parents of the victims not to file a report with police, the statement claimed.