Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Sunday directed the respondents to form anti-ragging committee and squad in all educational institutions, especially in public and private universities and affiliated colleges, in order to prevent ragging activities and executing speedy remedy within three months.
The High Court Bench of Justice M Enayetur and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman passed the order after hearing a petition filed in this regard.
Besides, the court issued a rule to explain in four weeks as to why the failure of the respondents to frame guidelines to prevent ragging activities to protect students’ lives and dignity should not be declared illegal. The court also wanted to know in the rule to explain as to why a direction should not be given against respondents to introduce mechanisms to protect students’ lives and dignity from ragging.
Home secretary, education secretary and UGC chairman have to comply with the rules within four weeks.
Advocate Ishrat Hassan, a Supreme Court lawyer, filed the petition with the High Court on January 8, 2020.
Petitioner lawyer herself appeared in the court on behalf of the petition while Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder stood for the State.
During the hearing, Advocate Ishrat said that the activities of ragging in the educational institutions have become a culture and, therefore, first year and second year students are being traumatized.
The authorities concerned are not taking effective steps to prevent ragging, she said, adding that India has introduced a law to prevent ragging in the institutions.
Advocate Ishrat prayed to the HC to pass necessary order on the authorities concerned of the government to ban ragging in the academic institutions.
She said, “Anti-ragging committee will receive allegations on ragging and will recommend the way for stopping it and squad will take action to stop ragging.”
Earlier on October 9, 2019, she sent a legal notice upon the respondents to take initiatives to prevent ragging in the educational institutions and subsequently she filed the writ petition with the High Court.
