Kerala High Court Establishes Special Bench for Ragging Cases
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Synopsis
The Kerala High Court is forming a special bench to address the rising concerns of ragging in educational institutions, following alarming incidents that have raised public awareness and calls for intervention.
Key Takeaways
- Special bench to address ragging cases.
- PIL filed by KeLSA highlights urgent need for action.
- Several students face serious charges.
- Training programs suggested for educators.
- BJP plans to set up a special cell in districts.
Kochi, March 4 (NationPress) The Kerala High Court announced on Tuesday its decision to form a special bench dedicated to addressing ragging cases across the state.
A division bench, comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice S. Manu, made this ruling while reviewing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) submitted by the Kerala State Legal Service Authority (KeLSA) aimed at tackling the rampant issue of ragging in educational institutions.
The court stated, “Tomorrow, we will discuss this with the other Bench. The schedule will be communicated.”
Kerala has been under scrutiny following two significant ragging incidents, notably the death of Sidharthan, a second-year student at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Pookode, Wayanad, on February 18, 2024, resulting from harassment by seniors and peers.
A total of 19 students face charges for various offenses, including abetment of suicide and ragging.
In a related event last month, five senior students from the state-run Nursing College in Kottayam were imprisoned for savagely ragging a junior.
Beyond these incidents, several others have been reported. In its PIL, KeLSA underscored these troubling occurrences in colleges statewide and requested the establishment of both district and state-level monitoring committees to enforce existing anti-ragging laws effectively.
KeLSA also recommended initiating training programs for educational authorities, educators, and student representatives to help them recognize early indicators of ragging and raise awareness about the pertinent legal framework.
With the surge in ragging incidents, Kerala BJP president K. Surendran declared their intention to establish a special cell in all 14 districts to combat ragging, urging individuals to report any issues to their cell.
