Legal actions for bullying, ragging in educational institutions

Legal action will be taken against student, teacher, or staff of any educational institution if they are found to be involved directly or indirectly in bullying or ragging.

In this regard, the government has formulated a new policy titled "Educational Institution Bullying or Ragging Prevention Policy 2023", according to an education ministry notification.

Action will be taken as per existing criminal law under the policy which will be applicable to all educational institutions across the country, it said.

If the president or members of the managing committee or governing body of the institution are involved in ragging, action will be taken in the same way, it added.

Each institution has been asked to immediately form a bullying and ragging prevention committee consisting of three to five members to this end.

The ministry asked the educational institutions to organise anti-ragging campaigns and to make and publish films, cartoons, banners, festoons, and online posters featuring the consequences of ragging and bullying.

Besides, educational institutions have been asked not to organise any kind of programme or conduct any kind of task that fuels bullying or ragging, and to set up CCTV cameras in the places where ragging or bullying are likely to occur.