Threat of Ragging in Educational Institutions

Threat of ragging in educational institutions
One of the most dangerous developments in the modern day educational institutions has been the tendency of senior students ragging the juniors, especially the first timers to the institutions. Ragging has been denounced in many forms. Many academicians, administrators, and above all the judiciary has been continuously denouncing it and have recently come out with legislations for preventing ragging in schools and colleges.One of the most comprehensive definitions of ragging has been recently advanced by the Supreme Court of India that says - "Ragging is 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 student, indulging in rowdy or undisciplined activities which cause or are likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in a fresher or a junior student and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the psyche of a fresher or a junior student." Whatever the reason be; like welcoming the new students or eradicating the feeling of nervousness making them acquainted with the environment of the institution; the action cannot be justified despite divergent arguments advanced by its supporters. Every alternative day some news is published in print and electronic media regarding death or suicide committed by students who were victims of ragging. Besides the mental agony the victim suffers, in many cases there are also physical injuries that could result in grievous injuries to the victim. In addition the effect is not only on an individual but on the family, the institution itself, educational system, and the entire society.It is therefore extremely essential for the educational institutions as well as the administrators of education in the country that suitable regulations are put in place to prevent this social