Despite 15 years of ragging guidelines of the Supreme Court, it remains a serious issue in Indian colleges, with weak enforcement and rising complaints exposing systemic failures.
The Supreme Court issued guidelines 15 years ago to eliminate ragging in educational institutions, but these directives largely remained symbolic, with government regulations failing to make a significant impact.
News like , Indian medical colleges are under scrutiny as they account for over 42% of all ragging complaints received by the UGC’s anti-ragging cell, young lives lose despite anti-ragging rules , etc., make limelight each day despite the strong guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in 2007 for anti-ragging.
The weakened enforcement system, compounded by complaints that are either dismissed as “trivial” or difficult to detect, has hindered progress. A key challenge lies in establishing a clear and widely accepted legal definition of ragging.
An investigation by media has revealed that these issues have contributed to a sharp rise in complaints on the anti-ragging helpline established by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2009. Data obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act shows that between January 2012 and October 2023, 78 students were reported to have died by suicide allegedly due to ragging. While this number may seem small compared to the 4.14 crore students in higher education, it highlights the opaque, inconsistent, and largely unresponsive nature of the system meant to address the issue.
The Data Speaks
Over the past decade, more than 8,000 ragging complaints have been registered on the UGC helpline, with the highest number of deaths due to ragging reported in Maharashtra (10), followed by Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (7 each), Telangana (6), Andhra Pradesh (5), and Madhya Pradesh (4). Uttar Pradesh led in the number of total complaints (1,202), followed by Madhya Pradesh (795), West Bengal (728), Odisha (517), Bihar (476), and Maharashtra (393). Among institutions, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) reported the highest number of complaints (72), followed by Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal (53), and MKCG Medical College, Berhampur, Odisha (49).
UGC Rules and Implementation Gaps
According to clause 9.4 of the UGC’s anti-ragging regulations, the commission has the authority to take action against colleges that fail to prevent ragging. However, accodring to media in response to an
RTI filed by the Society Against Violence in Education (SAVE), an NGO working to curb ragging, the UGC admitted that
“It has never exercised this provision since the helpline’s inception in 2009. Instead, it has relied on a vague clause allowing it to take “other actions within its powers as deemed appropriate.””
Accodring to media , Rajendra Kachru, founder of the Aman Movement, stated that the
“Helpline has received reports of ragging stemming from various sources, including power dynamics between seniors and juniors, personal rivalries, and conflicts over romantic interests or sexuality. In many cases, the perpetrators acted purely out of sadistic pleasure.”
Loopholes in Anti-Ragging Measures
As per UGC rules, students must submit an affidavit each academic year affirming that they will not engage in ragging. However, RTI data from the last decade reveals that only 4.49% of students have complied with this requirement.
The Supreme Court’s guidelines also mandate that institutional heads and anti-ragging committees conduct surprise raids and inspections, yet the UGC admitted to media that it has no record of actions taken by such squads.
UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar stated that the
“Helpline informs institutions and the police about ragging cases, with most issues being resolved at the institutional level. However, unresolved cases remain a significant concern”
Experts Call for Urgent Reforms
Experts emphasize the need for stricter measures, including secure complaint boxes, enhanced CCTV surveillance, and ID-based dashboards for victims. Former UGC Chairman Sukhdev Thorat highlighted that
“With over 40,000 colleges, 2,000 universities, and many independent institutions, direct enforcement by the UGC is challenging. The real solution lies in fully implementing existing regulations”
Despite legal frameworks, authorities at colleges with the highest number of complaints argue that many cases classified as ragging are actually student conflicts. BHU’s Anti-Ragging Committee Chair, Professor Royna Singh, claimed that
“Only 1% of complaints reported at the university were genuine ragging incidents”
Similarly, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal, stated that
“Only 10% of complaints came from first-year students, with most arising from general disputes”
However, Rajendra Kachru stressed that
“Many college administrations lack sensitivity in identifying ragging. Supreme Court guidelines define ragging as including bullying, intimidation, and abusive behavior, yet enforcement remains inconsistent. While some institutions have taken strict action, such as expelling students, a comprehensive approach is needed to ensure student safety“
Fifteen years after the Supreme Court’s intervention, ragging remains a persistent issue, underscoring the urgent need for stronger enforcement and accountability in educational institutions.
Fifteen years after the Supreme Court issued anti-ragging guidelines, the persistent rise in complaints and tragic student deaths highlight a critical failure in enforcement. While legal frameworks exist, weak implementation, lack of accountability, and institutional indifference continue to undermine efforts to curb ragging in colleges and universities.
The alarming statistics from UGC’s helpline highlights the urgent need for stricter monitoring, mandatory compliance with anti-ragging affidavits, and swift punitive action against institutions that fail to act.
To create a truly safe educational environment, authorities must shift from symbolic measures to concrete reforms—strengthening surveillance, ensuring independent oversight, and fostering a zero-tolerance culture against ragging.
Without immediate and decisive action, the cycle of intimidation and violence in higher education will persist, putting countless students at risk. The time for change is now.
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