R’than univ cracks down on ragging

To Impose Rs 1 Lakh Fine, Rusticate Guilty

Kshitiz Gaur | TNN

Ajmer: Just before the new academic session starts, a Rajasthan university has taken a tough stand against ragging in accordance with the ruling of the Supreme Court, which had recently cracked down on the menace.

Ajmer’s Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati (MDS) University, which has about 250 colleges affiliated to it, has decided to not only rusticate anyone caught ragging but also fine him up to Rs 1 lakh. The minimum fine is Rs 25,000. The university has added the new rules and directions in its prospectus for the new academic session. It has also formed a committee to investigate and take action against colleges where cases of ragging are reported.

The Supreme Court on May 8 directed all state governments to constitute committees to look into the incidents of ragging and curb the menace. Passing a slew of directions to eradicate ragging from educational institutions across the country, a bench headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat said every college should have a psychiatrist to counsel students.

“We have gone through every aspect and condition of ragging and drafted rules to prevent ragging,” said Professor K C Sharma, convener of the prospectus committee of MDS university.

Cops in plain clothes to guard HP colleges
Shimla: To pre-empt ragging attempts, Himachal Pradesh CM Prem Kumar Dhumal on Thursday directed lawenforcing agencies to deploy police personnel in plain clothes at all higher education institutions in the state where fresh admissions are due. The move comes in the wake of three ragging incidents in the state over the past few months. At a meet, the CM called for maintaining effective checking at education institutions to curb entry of suspicious elements.

Man dies in ragging tiff
Madikeri: An alleged act of ragging claimed the life of a middle-aged man, who rushed to a Madikeri college campus on Thursday afternoon to sort out a squabble his ward allegedly had with bullying seniors. The police said Bharat went to the college seeking admission. But he was ragged and attacked by seniors. Humiliated, he called home. His father Vishwanath and uncle Raghunath Marla came charging to the campus and argued with the seniors. One of the students allegedly gave Raghunath a hard push. Raghunath lost balance, tottered and collapsed to the ground dead. TNN