A division bench of the Gujarat High Court on Monday disposed of a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) about ragging incidents in colleges. This decision was taken after the Gujarat government submitted that it had notified a government resolution (GR) mandating compliance with the existing rules and regulations.
The Gujarat government, in a GR dated March 21, mandated that all government medical colleges, GMERS colleges, medical colleges administered by municipal corporations, as well as self-financed medical colleges are to ensure effective implementation of the National Medical Commission (Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging in Medical Colleges and Institutions) Regulations, 2021.
The government issued a number of instructions for deans of all medical colleges. The GR also clarifies that the deans are responsible for effectively implementing the instructions.
Strict measures
The measures include taking an anti-ragging undertaking from students and their parents at the time of admission, complaint boxes to be kept in multiple areas in the college premises and to be resolved regularly by the dean, and starting an anti-ragging helpline, the number of which would be published on the college website and other places on the campus.
Also, the GR directed that punishment provisions be displayed on notice boards and regular campaigns be conducted where senior students are made aware about ragging and the punishment provisions.
Medical colleges are also required to send detailed information regarding ragging to the National Medical Commission (NMC) in New Delhi every year.
‘Govt has taken action’
The case was taken up before the bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee on Monday. Taking into account the affidavit of compliance filed by the additional director of medical education and research in the commissionerate of health, medical services and medical education on April 5, the bench concluded that the state government has now addressed the issues arising in the PIL.
The court disposed of the PIL observing that all higher educational institutions/professional colleges in Gujarat must follow the instructions issued in the GR. “In case of any violation on part of administrative authority of such institutions, appropriate action will be taken by the appropriate authority,” the court stated.
