By Debasis Tripathy in Bhubaneswar
This is good news for college goers and their guardians, who are scared of ragging. The Orissa government has ordered criminal proceedings against the heads of the institutions, Principals of colleges along with the accused, where cases of ragging are detected.
In a significant development, the State government has taken another bold step towards eradication of ragging in different educational institutions, in general and technical institutions in particular. In these institutions ragging is strictly prohibited, and has been made punishable under law, by which no senior student can force his junior to do any such act prohibited by law, in order to show his loyalty towards his senior. A circular has been issued to all concerned in this regard.
According to the information provided by the State law ministry, the government has taken serious note of the ragging cases in colleges, which affect innocent students both physically and mentally. Even after the launch of a number of consciousness programmes, no such remarkable result has come about. Keeping this in view the State government has decided to put a blanket ban on ragging in technical colleges, as a part of this anti-ragging mission. A first information report (FIR) would be immediately lodged against the Principals, where such cases are reported, said Shri Biswa Bhusan Harichandan, the Law Minister of the State.
According to the information provided by the State law ministry, the government has taken serious note of the ragging cases in colleges, which affect innocent students both physically and mentally.
While talking to media persons in Bhubaneswar, Shri Harichandan said that the intervention of the State government in cases of ragging is a must, since the situation is getting out of control. Not only would the goverment initiate criminal proceedings, but it would also not hesitate to withdraw the ?no-objection? certificates issued to colleges involved in ragging. The AICTE would cancel affiliation in case of technical institutions, added Shri Harichandan.
It may be noted here, that during the last academic session, serious allegations of ragging were reported. Besides other cases, one student of Ravenshaw College, one of the most renowned colleges of the State was reportedly ragged inside the hostel.
Many academicians welcome this decision of the government. Shri Binod Das, the Secretary of the Orissa Private Engineering Colleges Association expressed his satisfaction on steps taken by the State government to check ragging, but suspected it as a plan of the government to interfere in the management of the private institutions. ?The State government has no role in the administration of the private colleges and it can not close these colleges? he added.
