RAGGING: Any disorderly conduct whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness any other student, indulging in rowdy or undisciplined activities which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in a fresher or a junior student or asking the students to do any act or perform something which such student will not in the ordinary course and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of a fresher or a junior student”.

Anti-Ragging Cell

A student who has been ragged or has seen someone being ragged in hostels or in departments or within the University building may submit his/her complaint to any one of the above members who may bring to the notice to the Dean, Students’ Welfare immediately. Upon receipt of such complaint, the Dean, Students’ Welfare shall convene a meeting of the Cell within three (3) days. Anti-Ragging Cell shall inquire into the complaint. If the complaint is found to be true and perpetrator(s) is/are identified, the Cell may make appropriate recommendations to the Vice-Chancellor as per standing Supreme Court rulings.

The Cell shall sensitize the students on anti-ragging rules from time to time and display notices in hostels and departments informing them of the likely consequences if they indulge in ragging.

Activities Considered as Ragging:

• Any conduct by words spoken or written or an act which has the effect of teasing, threading or handling with rudeness to a fresher or any other student.
• Financial extortion or act of forceful expenditure.
• Physical abuses
• Rowdy/undisciplined activities, which cause or are likely to cause annoyance, hardship, physical/psychological harm or fear or apprehension in any student.
• Forcing a student to do an act, which generates sense of shame, torment or embarrassment affecting his/her physique or psyche
• Any act which prevents/disturbs/disrupts regular academic activities assignment to a student
• Any act or abuse by spoken words, emails, post, public insults which would also include deriving perverted pleasure, vicarious or sadistic thrill from actively participating in the discomfiture to fresher or any other student
• Any act affecting mental health and self-confidence of student with or without any intent to derive a sadistic pleasure showing off power, authority or superiority

The Recommendations of Shri R. K. Raghavan Committee:

Verbal Ragging: When a senior causes mental harassment, discomfort for the junior by forcing him/her to answer unacceptable/personal questions, dance, sing, etc. is said to rag the junior. It also includes within its ambit “cyber ragging”. Punishment: 1 year imprisonment or fine

Severe Verbal Ragging: Where the mental harassment, discomfort is to such an act as forces the junior to withdraw from the college. Punishment: 7 year imprisonment with fine

Physical Ragging: Any act by the senior towards the junior which inflicts bodily injury on the junior. Like beating the junior, hitting him/her with objects etc. Punishment: 7 year imprisonment with fine

Sexual Ragging: where the senior asks the junior to do an act which damages sexual dignity of the junior. Punishment: 7 year rigorous imprisonment and fine

OBJECTIVES:

To curb the menace of ragging in Sikkim University

Anti Ragging Policy – Ragging is strictly banned in the premises of Sikkim University and its affiliated institutions. If anybody is found indulging in such activities, strict action will be taken irrespective of the extent of ragging.

• To prevent ragging in the University/Colleges and also take proper action against those who are indulging in it,
• To root out ragging in all its forms from the institution by prohibiting it by law and preventing its occurrence by following the provisions of the Regulations of Supreme Court, UGC and Sikkim University, and
  
• To spell out suitable punishments to those found guilty.

FUNCTIONS OF THE ANTI-RAGGING COMMITTEE

1. To get an undertaking in the prescribed format from the candidate concerned on anti ragging.
2. To address the students and parents by the head of the institutions on anti ragging.
3. To arrange to send letters to parents, guardians of the students at the end of the academic year for creation of awareness.
4. To coordinate with the institutions affiliated and calling for periodical reports from them.
5. To form monitoring cells (sub-committees) consisting of mentors at the end of academic year.
6. To suggest measures to tighten the security.
7. To recommend withdrawal of affiliation of institutions which did not curb ragging effectively.