GUWAHATI, DEC 3: Highly concerned over several serious cases of ragging in educational institutions in the state, the Assam Legislative Assembly has passed a Bill making ragging a major offence which will now invite a jail term of six months apart from a fine of Rs 10,000.The Assam Prohibition of Ragging Bill, 1998, which was passed by the on-going session of the Assam Assembly has also made the heads of educational institutions accountable for incidents of ragging.Under the provisions, heads of educational institutions will also liable for disciplinary proceedings if they fail to or neglect in taking action against the erring students.Students found to be indulging in ragging will also be expelled from the concerned educational institution for a period not less than one academic session, while the authority concerned shall have to put out advertisements in local newspapers making the announcement public.To drive home the message further, the Bill has also envisaged that the advertisement shallalso carry name of the father as well as the permanent address of the student expelled and punished for indulging in ragging.Defining ragging, the Bill said that it will cover everything like display of noisy or disorderly conduct or doing of any act which causes or is likely to cause social, physical or psychological harm, or raise apprehension or fear or shame or embarassment to any student.
