Ragging has long been a serious issue in Indian educational institutions, leading to mental trauma, physical torture, and even tragic deaths. Strict anti-ragging laws were introduced to curb this menace, but what happens when these laws are misused? In a system where a mere accusation can ruin a student’s future, are we ensuring justice or just shifting the balance of fear?
While ragging laws were enacted with good intentions, they have created an unexpected problem—false accusations. This article explores how anti-ragging laws can be misused, the loopholes in the system, and real-life examples of how some students have weaponized these laws to settle personal scores.
Ragging in India: From Fun to Horror
Ragging in India wasn’t always brutal. Before independence, it was a lighthearted interaction in military and English courses, meant to break the ice between seniors and juniors. However, as time passed, it took a darker turn. By the 1980s, ragging became violent, and by the 1990s, with the rise of private medical and engineering colleges, it turned into organized torture.
One of the most infamous cases was that of Aman Kachru, a medical student in Dharamshala, who died in 2009 after being ragged by his seniors. His tragic death forced the Supreme Court to strengthen anti-ragging laws across India.
But while these laws brought relief to countless students, they also introduced a new problem—what if a student falsely accuses someone of ragging? The answer is troubling.
How Anti-Ragging Laws Can Be Misused
- Guilty Until Proven Innocent: The Burden of Proof Trap
Under Regulation 6.5.11 of UGC’s Anti-Ragging Regulations, 2009, the burden of proof lies on the accused senior, not the victim. This means that if a junior accuses a senior of ragging, the senior must prove their innocence.
Let’s put this into perspective:
Imagine you’re a senior student helping a junior adjust to college life. One day, they file an anonymous complaint against you, claiming you ragged them. According to the law, you are immediately under suspicion. Now, how do you prove that you didn’t do something?
This goes against the fundamental principle of justice—”Innocent until proven guilty.” Instead, anti-ragging laws reverse this principle, assuming the accused is guilty until they prove otherwise.
- The Anonymous Complaint Loophole
The UGC’s online complaint portal allows students to file complaints anonymously. While this protects genuine victims from retaliation, it also opens the door to false complaints.
For instance, a junior with a personal grudge against a senior can file a fake ragging complaint without revealing their identity. Once the complaint is filed, universities are obligated to investigate the accused students, causing unnecessary stress, humiliation, and in some cases, suspension or expulsion.
Consider this real-life example:
In 2022, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University suspended two students after a junior accused them of ragging. Later, it was discovered that the complaint was false and filed out of revenge for a previous argument. The accused students suffered public humiliation, mental distress, and nearly lost their academic careers—all because of a personal dispute. - “Obey Me, or I’ll Ruin You” – Blackmailing with the Law
Some students have even weaponized anti-ragging laws for personal gain.
A female student at a prestigious Indian university once threatened a senior that if she wasn’t given the hostel room she wanted, she would file a false ragging complaint. Fearing the consequences, the senior had no choice but to comply.
This is not an isolated case. Many seniors avoid interacting with juniors altogether, fearing that any disagreement might lead to a false complaint. This has killed the tradition of mentorship, where seniors guide juniors through the difficulties of college life. - The Administration’s Fear-Driven Decisions
Most universities are more concerned about their reputation than the actual truth. The moment a ragging complaint is filed, instead of conducting a thorough investigation, many institutions immediately take action against the accused to avoid controversy.
This results in unfair suspensions, expulsions, and lifelong stigma for students who may have done nothing wrong. And if the complaint turns out to be false? Well, the damage is already done. The university moves on, but the wrongly accused student is left with a tarnished record and shattered self-confidence
A System That Protects the Accuser but Not the Accused:
One of the biggest flaws in the anti-ragging laws is that there is no punishment for filing a false complaint. If a student falsely accuses someone of ragging, they face no consequences.
This creates a system where students can:
- Settle personal scores by falsely accusing seniors.
- Blackmail others into giving them favors.
- Ruin someone’s future with a single anonymous complaint.
Meanwhile, the accused suffer irreparable damage to their academic and personal lives.
What Can Be Done? A Middle Path
While ragging must be eradicated, we also need to protect students from false accusations. Here’s how:
- Shift the burden of proof: The complainant should provide initial evidence before an investigation begins.
- No anonymous complaints: While confidentiality is important, completely anonymous complaints create room for misuse. A balance must be struck.
- Punishment for false complaints: If a student is found to have filed a false complaint, they should face disciplinary action.
- Independent investigation panels: Universities should have unbiased committees, including legal experts, to assess complaints objectively.
- Educating students: Colleges must educate students on what constitutes ragging and the consequences of filing false complaints.
Conclusion: A Law That Needs Fixing
Ragging is a serious crime, and strict laws are necessary to prevent it. However, in their current form, anti-ragging laws create more fear than justice. A system where anyone can be accused and immediately punished without proof is flawed.
If we want to truly protect students, we must ensure that the laws don’t just punish bullies but also prevent misuse. Otherwise, the day isn’t far when students will fear juniors more than seniors—not because of ragging, but because of false accusations that can destroy lives with just a few clicks.
(In arrangement with Straight Talk Communications. www.straight-talk-communications.com)