Hyderabad College Ragging: NHRC Issues Notice To Telangana, Education Ministry And UGC

The NHRC ordered a report from the chief secretary within six weeks explaining the action taken in the incident.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Telangana government, the state education ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC) after a college student was allegedly ragged, attacked and forced to chant religious slogans.

Taking suo-motu cognizance, the NHRC stated Tuesday that the occurrence amounted to human rights breach due to the college administration's negligence, lack of oversight, and inherent failure to protect the safety of its students on its campus.

The NHRC ordered a report from the chief secretary within six weeks explaining the action taken in the incident and the reasons for the institution's apparent inability to take necessary precautions to prevent ragging in compliance with UGC regulations.

"He has also been asked to explain whether the victim has been suspended by the college, and if yes, in what circumstances," the statement said as quoted by PTI. 

A notice has also been given to the Telangana Director General of Police regarding the status of the criminal case filed against the assailants, as well as the college's teaching and non-teaching staff.

"It appears that nothing has improved despite the UGC Regulation on curbing the menace of ragging in higher educational institutions way back in 2009," the NHRC said as quoted by PTI. 

A notice has also been given to the Ministry of Education and UGC secretaries requesting reports on the effective implementation of the Raghavan Committee's recommendations on anti-ragging measures.

It observed that the incident could have been prevented if a slew of measures like regular interaction and counselling of the students to identify an early indication of ragging and holding surprise inspections were implemented.

Eight students of a business school near Hyderabad were arrested in connection with an alleged incident of ragging, including a student being beaten up, which assumed a communal colour after a video of it had gone viral. 

(With Inputs From PTI)