Anti-ragging affidavit new tool for colleges to curb practice

The UGC circular issued in March mentions that every student must submit an affidavit stating that he/she would not indulge in any ragging. This affidavit needs to be submitted by all students seeking admission in any educational institution. “This,we hope,will keep senior students from ragging their juniors,” said Nikam.

However,confusion prevails about the manner in which this affidavit is to be submitted. Though there is no specific mention in UGC guidelines,many colleges are asking students to submit an affidavit on a Rs 100 stamp paper. A second-year student from All India Shri Shivaji Memorial College of Engineering Pune (AISSM),said,“We had not submitted any affidavit at the time of our admission last year. The college authorities have now asked us to submit it on a Rs 100-stamp paper.”

Students are complaining that there being no fixed charge for the notary fee,the process is getting expensive for them. “Many of my friends had to pay extra to get the affidavit from notaries. They also charge more to get the format typed on stamp paper,” said Shekhar,a student of the AISSM’s College of Engineering.

In 2010,a similar decision by Fergusson College to have students submit an anti-ragging affidavit on Rs 100-stamp paper had drawn flak from various quarters. The Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had strongly protested against the decision.

“Instead of asking us for an undertaking on a Rs 100-stamp paper,they should accept the declaration on a regular sheet of paper with the signature of the student and his or her parent. This is becoming troublesome for students and parents as most of them are new to the city,” said a student of College of Engineering,Pune.