Anti-Ragging Cell

Introduction

Darshan University has a zero-tolerance policy towards ragging. Ragging is strictly prohibited inside and outside the university campus. The University strictly follows the guidelines on ragging issued by the Honorable Supreme Court of India and University Grants Commission (UGC).

What constitutes Ragging

As per the provision of section-3 of UGC (Curbing the menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2009, Ragging constitutes one or more of any of the following acts:

1. Any conduct by any student or students whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness a fresher or any other student;
2. Indulging in rowdy or indiscipline activities by any student or students which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship, physical or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in any fresher or any other student;
3. Asking any student to do any act which such student will not in the ordinary course do and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame, or torment or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of such fresher or any other student;
4. Any act by a senior student that prevents, disrupts or disturbs the regular academic activity of any other student or a fresher;
5. Exploiting the services of a fresher or any other student for completing the academic tasks assigned to an individual or a group of students;
6. Any act of financial extortion or forceful expenditure burden put on a fresher or any other student by students;
7. Any act of physical abuse including all variants of it: sexual abuse, homosexual assaults, stripping, forcing obscene and lewd acts, gestures, causing bodily harm or any other danger to health or person;
8. Any act or abuse by spoken words, emails, post, public insults which would also include deriving perverted pleasure, vicarious or sadistic thrill from actively or passively participating in the discomfiture to fresher or any other student;
9. Any act that affects the mental health and self-confidence of a fresher or any other student with or without an intent to derive a sadistic pleasure or showing off power, authority or superiority by a student over any fresher or any other student;
10. Any act of physical or mental abuse (including bullying and exclusion) targeted at another student (fresher or otherwise) on the ground of colour, race, religion, caste, ethnicity, gender (including transgender), sexual orientation, appearance, nationality, regional origins, linguistic identity, place of birth, place of residence or economic background.

Administrative Action in the event of ragging

The Monitoring Cell may, depending on the nature and gravity of the guilt established by the Anti-Ragging Squad, can recommend to the Director General to award, to those found guilty, one or more of the following punishments:

1. Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges.
2. Withholding/withdrawing scholarship/fellowship and other benefits.
3. Debarring from appearing in any test/examination or other evaluation process.
4. Withholding results.
5. Debarring from representing the institution in any regional, national or international meet, tournament, youth festival, etc.
6. Suspension/expulsion from the hostel.
7. Cancellation of admission.
8. Rustication from the institution for a period ranging from one to four semesters.
9. Expulsion from the institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other institution for a specified period.

Provided that where the persons committing or abetting the act of ragging are not identified, the institution shall resort to collective punishment.

Governance Structure

Monitoring Cell

At the University Level, there is a Monitoring Cell of Anti-Ragging Measures, which is chaired by the Provost of the University. The cell consists of all the Head of Institutions, and Registrar of the University as members and the Chief Warden (Hostels) as Member Secretary. This body coordinates with the constituent Institutions members.

Anti-Ragging Committee

The Anti-Ragging ensures compliance with the provisions of the regulations as well as the provisions of any law for the time being in force concerning ragging; investigate complaints and also, monitor and oversee the performance of the Anti-Ragging Squad in prevention of ragging. The Anti-Ragging Committee is responsible for inculcating a culture of Ragging Free Environment on Campus.

Anti-Ragging Squad

The Anti-Ragging Squad makes surprise raids on hostels, and other places vulnerable to incidents and having the potential for ragging and shall be empowered to inspect such places. It also conducts an on-the-spot enquiry into any incidents of ragging referred to it by any person, as the case may be; and the enquiry report along with recommendations shall be submitted to the Anti-Ragging Committee for action.

Mentoring Cell

The mentoring cell performs following mentoring activities:

1. It shall act as Mentors for Freshers in the succeeding academic year.
2. It will interact with the First-Year students on daily basis to ascertain, problems/difficulties faced by the students, if any, and extend necessary help and guidance.
3. The members will counsel individually the First-Year students regularly regarding likely problems of adjustment in a new situation in life and studies, the environment, traditions, do's and don't, work pressure, etc; allay misconceptions and fears about ragging, and invigorate them to fearless.
4. It will provide information regarding Help-Lines, contact number of relevant officials.
5. It will counsel ragging prone students for change of attitude and behavior and encourage them to lead a normal student life.

Anti-Ragging Committee

Anti-Ragging Measures

1. All the students admitted to the University have to observe and abide by the rules prescribed by the University and the respective Institute.
2. Each student and his parent are required to submit an online undertaking every academic year.
3. To enhance familiarity and acclimatise the fresher to the academic and social environment of the campus, each institute organises an orientation programme in the first week of the new academic calendar.
4. Different communication mechanisms are used to disseminate the information about the anti-ragging measures being followed at the University.
5. Regular interaction and counselling sessions are held with the students to make them comfortable in the new environment and to detect any signs of ragging.
6. The anti-ragging squad regularly visits the hostels, canteen/mess area, and sports ground to detect signs of ragging. In addition, there are surprise inspection at hostels, canteens, rest-cum-recreational rooms, toilets, bus-stands, etc to prevent ragging and any undesirable behaviour or incident.