Ragging to be non-bailable offence,new ordinance expected this week

Though most of the provisions in the new ordinance will be drawn on lines of the existing Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (prohibition of ragging ) Ordinance —— promulgated by the Shanta Kumar government in 1992,Chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has asked the Home department frame more stringent law in the light of the Supreme Court judgement.

“I want ragging to become a practice of the past in the state. What happened was tragic and we will not allow this to happen again,” Dhumal said.

The new ordinance will make the head of the institution accountable. In case he fails to act,he will face legal consequences.

If such an authority,despite the knowledge of the ragging,connives or abets the commission of the offence or suppresses the facts,will also be booked along with the offenders. The punishment is likely to be up to three years of imprisonment or fine or both.

The Home department proposes to incorporate all provisions contained in the university’s statues such as immediate expulsion of the guilty students,action against the supervisory officials including hostel wardens,canteen managers and security guards etc.

“But these things are preliminary. The law will be given the final shape in the next two days before its discussed and approved by the cabinet. The notification will issued by the weekend. Later,the state assembly will pass the law formally ,” said a senior law department official.

There will be sufficient provisions of forming anti-ragging squads and committees.

The CM said the state’s education department and the health department will prominently display the telephone numbers and email IDs of the Chief Minister,Health Minister,Education Minister and Secretaries so that students can complaint.