Kerala State Human Rights Commission member R. Natarajan has demanded that special courts equivalent to First Class Judicial Magistrate Courts be set up to try and punish those who engaged in ragging-related crimes. He was inaugurating a seminar on anti-ragging laws, organised by the Palakkad-based Victims Information, Sensitisation, Welfare, and Assistance Society (VISWAS), against a backdrop of the growing incidents of ragging in the district. Ragging in any form was a violation of human rights and sometimes drove the victims to suicide, observed Mr. Natarajan.
A recent judgment of the Supreme Court provided for severe punishment, which could extend up to life imprisonment, he said.
Collegiate Education Deputy Director N.P. Issahaq, who was the chief guest, said that it was unfortunate that some students and even teachers were supporting ragging on the plea that it was needed to make new-comers overcome their inhibitions. Ragging provided an opportunity for senior students to exploit their juniors and derive a sadistic pleasure out of it. The victims suffered from stress, trauma, and post-trauma disorders, and some could end up committing suicide.
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District Collector K. Ramachandran warned the students against indulging even in the mildest form of ragging as a complaint by a junior student could land them in jail. Once a person was convicted by the law, he or she wouldn’t be admitted to any educational institution in the country. The police would also strictly go by the law.
Premnath Prabhakaran, lawyer, of VISWAS said its students’ wings had already started working at V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan Memorial Law College at Elavanchery near here and Lead College of Management at Dhoni. He said such attempts would help ensure justice for victims of the practice.
‘The victims suffered from stress, trauma,
and post-trauma disorders, and some could end up committing suicide.’