GNLU BOY PLEADS WITH UGC FOR HELP AFTER RAGGING BY SENIORS
Fresher called up UGC’s anti-ragging helpline alleging constant harassment by SY, TY students. GNLU claims his complaint was ‘fake’ and aimed at ‘checking’ UGC response
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, July 26, 2013
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Friday, July 26, 2013
(http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/20130726201307260222491846dbd7ba8/GNLU-BOY-PLEADS-WITH-UGC-FOR-HELP-AFTER-RAGGING-BY-SENIORS.html
A first-year student of Gujarat National Law University called up the anti-ragging helpline set up by University Grants Commission after he was allegedly ragged for three days from 10 pm to 4 am by his seniors at the boys’ hostel. Prabir (name changed), from Kolkata, claims he contacted the UGC helpline (1800-180-5522) because he was not aware of the anti-ragging cell in place at GNLU. The complaint registered with the helpline states, “My batchmates and I are being harassed and pushed to the limit after the class gets over.
We are forced to indulge in obscenity as our seniors (mostly students from second year along with a few from final year) smoke pot in front of us and make us suffer.” He also stated that the seniors targeted his “origin and ethnicity” and he could not take the harassment any longer. “We have all signed anti-ragging affidavits during admission, but the varsity authorities are ignorant of the same and have been supporting this custom...our seniors are expected to do this for the next four months. Please help us out. Also, I request you not to reveal my identity as it would add to my suffering.
We have to stay here for the next five years and this doesn’t look like a very healthy environment.” He claims he was constantly ragged for three days and three nights. The student, along with other freshers, lives on the ground floor of the hostel while the seniors are put up on the first floor. The hostel rooms are occupied by either one or two students. A student said on condition of anonymity, “Every night, the seniors randomly pick up a fresher and take him to the second floor. He is detained there for six hours during which he is asked to sing in his regional language, participate in a Kaun Banega Crorepati parody or dance as instructed.
The ragging levels are upped depending on the victim’s attitude. If he is unrelenting, he is harassed till he breaks down.” Another student told Mirror, “Even now, a student on the ground floor is harassed from 10 pm to 4 am. Worse, the seniors have formed groups to take freshers to task. So, even if a fresher gets ragged by one group his ordeal is not over. All this, despite the warden living in the same building. In fact when we orally complained to the warden about it, he asked us to stay put and assured things would be fine, soon.”
Boy did not contact GNLU officials
It was around a fortnight ago that Prabir was “picked up” by his seniors from his room. According to his complaint with the helpline, the harassment went on for “three days and three nights”. He finally contacted UGC anti- ragging committee. However, the university officials claim that Prabir registered a “fake complaint”, just to “test” whether the UGC panel will respond or not. “We are examining the case.
Preliminary investigation has not revealed any incident of ragging. The student has shared with us that he was instigated to file such a complaint. He apologised the same day for levelling false allegation and for lack of knowledge. The said student did not inform any authority in the university regarding the alleged incident before rushing to file a complaint. GNLU will impose exemplary punishment on the wrongdoer, as the case may be. We have also extended full institutional support to prevent any incident of ragging on our campus, by deploying academic/administrative staff on round-the-clock vigil,” said Dolly Jabbal, GNLU registrar and convenor of the anti-ragging cell.
Warden Jatin Patel said that he and the security guard have been staying awake all night since the UGC intervention to check any untoward incident. Prabir told Mirror, “The anti-ragging panel members of the UGC are still in touch with me. I heard that GNLU has taken disciplinary action against five students, but I am not sure. For the past several days, no senior is troubling me. I have been sleeping in peace.” A member of the UGC panel said, “On Thursday, too, we spoke to the GNLU vice chancellor. He says that the complaint seems to be fake and that he is not being able to contact the victim. However, he assured us that a disciplinary committee report will be sent to us soon.”
A first-year student of Gujarat National Law University called up the anti-ragging helpline set up by University Grants Commission after he was allegedly ragged for three days from 10 pm to 4 am by his seniors at the boys’ hostel. Prabir (name changed), from Kolkata, claims he contacted the UGC helpline (1800-180-5522) because he was not aware of the anti-ragging cell in place at GNLU. The complaint registered with the helpline states, “My batchmates and I are being harassed and pushed to the limit after the class gets over.
We are forced to indulge in obscenity as our seniors (mostly students from second year along with a few from final year) smoke pot in front of us and make us suffer.” He also stated that the seniors targeted his “origin and ethnicity” and he could not take the harassment any longer. “We have all signed anti-ragging affidavits during admission, but the varsity authorities are ignorant of the same and have been supporting this custom...our seniors are expected to do this for the next four months. Please help us out. Also, I request you not to reveal my identity as it would add to my suffering.
We have to stay here for the next five years and this doesn’t look like a very healthy environment.” He claims he was constantly ragged for three days and three nights. The student, along with other freshers, lives on the ground floor of the hostel while the seniors are put up on the first floor. The hostel rooms are occupied by either one or two students. A student said on condition of anonymity, “Every night, the seniors randomly pick up a fresher and take him to the second floor. He is detained there for six hours during which he is asked to sing in his regional language, participate in a Kaun Banega Crorepati parody or dance as instructed.
The ragging levels are upped depending on the victim’s attitude. If he is unrelenting, he is harassed till he breaks down.” Another student told Mirror, “Even now, a student on the ground floor is harassed from 10 pm to 4 am. Worse, the seniors have formed groups to take freshers to task. So, even if a fresher gets ragged by one group his ordeal is not over. All this, despite the warden living in the same building. In fact when we orally complained to the warden about it, he asked us to stay put and assured things would be fine, soon.”
Boy did not contact GNLU officials
It was around a fortnight ago that Prabir was “picked up” by his seniors from his room. According to his complaint with the helpline, the harassment went on for “three days and three nights”. He finally contacted UGC anti- ragging committee. However, the university officials claim that Prabir registered a “fake complaint”, just to “test” whether the UGC panel will respond or not. “We are examining the case.
Preliminary investigation has not revealed any incident of ragging. The student has shared with us that he was instigated to file such a complaint. He apologised the same day for levelling false allegation and for lack of knowledge. The said student did not inform any authority in the university regarding the alleged incident before rushing to file a complaint. GNLU will impose exemplary punishment on the wrongdoer, as the case may be. We have also extended full institutional support to prevent any incident of ragging on our campus, by deploying academic/administrative staff on round-the-clock vigil,” said Dolly Jabbal, GNLU registrar and convenor of the anti-ragging cell.
Warden Jatin Patel said that he and the security guard have been staying awake all night since the UGC intervention to check any untoward incident. Prabir told Mirror, “The anti-ragging panel members of the UGC are still in touch with me. I heard that GNLU has taken disciplinary action against five students, but I am not sure. For the past several days, no senior is troubling me. I have been sleeping in peace.” A member of the UGC panel said, “On Thursday, too, we spoke to the GNLU vice chancellor. He says that the complaint seems to be fake and that he is not being able to contact the victim. However, he assured us that a disciplinary committee report will be sent to us soon.”
