UNIVERSITY OF KERALA versus COUNCIL OF PRINCIPALS OF COLLEGES IN KERALA & ORS.

Citation: [2009] 8 S.C.R. 507 · Decided: 08-05-2009 · Supreme Court of India · Bench: ARIJIT PASAYAT · Disposal: Hearing Adjourned

Judgment (excerpt)

• 
[2009] 8 S.C.R. 507 
UNIVERSITY OF KERALA 
v. 
COUNCIL OF PRINCIPALS OF COLLEGES IN KERALA & 
ORS. 
(Civil Appeal No. 887 of 2009) 
MAY 8, 2009 
[DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT AND ASOK KUMAR 
GANGULY, JJ.] 
A 
B 
Education/Educational Institutions -
Ragging -
C 
Recommendations made by Raghavan Committee -
Suggesting measures for curbing menace of ragging from 
educational 
institutions 
-
Directions 
issued 
for 
implementation of the recommendations - Directions also 
issued with regard to a particular college having history of D 
violent ragging. 
Raghavan 
Committee 
made 
certain 
recommendations to obliterate menace of ragging 
prevalent in educational institutions, suggesting certain 
E 
measures. 
For implementation of the recommendations made by 
the Committee, the Court 
DIRECTED: 1.1. The Ministry of Human Resource 
F 
Development, Government of India, in consultation with 
UGC, MCI, AICTE and other similar regulatory bodies is 
in the process of setting up a central crisis-hotline and 
anti-ragging database in the manner suggested by 
Raghavan Committee and the UGC. The task of G 
monitoring the database be given to a non-governmental 
agency, to be immediately nominated by Union of India. 
The database shall be created out of affidavits affirmed 
507 
H 
508 
SUPREME COURT REPORTS 
[2009] 8 S.C.R. 
A by each student and his/her parents/guardians, which 
affidavits shall be stored electronically, and shall contain 
the details of each student. The database shall also 
function as a rec.ord of ragging complaints received, and 
the status of the action taken thereon. [Para 2) [518-E-H; 
B 519-A) 
1.2. The Draft Regulations on Curbing the Menace of 
Ragging, formulated by the UGC, should be implemented 
with the urgency it deserves and to be adopted by .all 
C other regulatory bodies, such as AICTE, MCI, DCI, NCI etc. 
[Para 3] [519-A-B] 
1.3. Formulation of guidelines and regulations alone 
is not sufficient. Such regulations shall have to be 
enforced strictly, and penal consequences for the heads 
D of the institutionsladministration of the institution who do 
not take timely steps in the prevention of ragging and 
punishing those who rag. In addition to penal 
consequences, departmental enquiries be initiated 
against such heads institutions I members of the 
E administration I faculty members I non-teaching staff, 
who display an apathetic or insensitive attitude towards 
complaints 1uf ragging. [Para 4) [519-B-D) 
1.4. Not only the students, but also the faculty who 
F must be sensitized towards the ills of ragging, and the 
prevention thereof. Non-teaching staff, which includes 
administrative staff, contract employees, security guards 
etc., have also to be regularly sensitized towards the evils 
G 
H 
and consequences of ragging. [Para 5) [519-E] 
1.5. The Principal or Head of the Institution{ 
Department shall obtain an undertaking from every 
employee of the institution including teaching and non-
teaching members of staff, contract labour employed in 
UNIVERSITY OF KERALA v. COUNCIL OF PRINCIPALS 509 
OF COLLEGES IN KERALA 
the premises either for running canteen or as watch and 
A 
ward staff or for cleaning or maintenance of the buildings/ 
lawns etc. that he/she would report promptly any case of 
ragging which comes to his/her notice. A provision shall 
be made in the service rules for issuing certificates of 
appreciation to such members of the staff who report 
B 
tagging which will form part of their service record. [Para 
6) [519-F~H] 
1.6. The employers/employees of the canteens/mess 
shall be given necessary instructions to keep strict vigil c 
and to report the incidents of ragging to the college 
authorities if any. [Para 7] [520-A·B] 
1.7. Parents/guardians of freshers assume 
responsibility for promptly bringing to the notice of the 
0 
Head of the Institution any instance of ragging. [Para 12) 
[520-G-H] 
1.8. Each batch of freshers should be divided into 
small groups and each such group shall be assigned to 
a member of the staff. Such staff member should interact E 
individually with, each member of the group on a daily 
basis for ascertaining the problems/difficulties if any 
faced by the fresher in the institution and extending 
necessary help. Each group in-charge shall maintain a 
diary of his/her interaction with the freshers under his/her 
F 
charge. [Para 8) (520-B-D] 
1.9. In the case of freshers admitted to a hostel, it 
shall be the responsibility of the teacher in charge of th

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