How to File a Complaint Against Ragging in India: UGC Regulations and Criminal Penalties
Ragging in educational institutions is both a criminal offence and a disciplinary violation that can result in expulsion, imprisonment, and permanent academic consequences. Despite decades of regulations and court orders, ragging persists in many colleges and universities across India. The UGC Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009, along with the criminal provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, provide multiple channels for filing complaints and holding perpetrators accountable. This guide explains the legal framework, the complaint process, and the consequences that follow.
What Constitutes Ragging Under Law
The UGC Regulations, 2009 define ragging broadly. It includes any act that causes or is likely to cause physical or psychological harm, raises apprehension or fear, causes shame or embarrassment, or forces a student to do something they would not otherwise do. This covers physical violence, verbal abuse, forced consumption of alcohol or drugs, sexual harassment, stripping, forced labour, and any form of humiliation directed at freshers by senior students.
The definition is intentionally wide. Even actions that may appear harmless, such as forcing a student to perform tasks, sing songs, or answer personal questions in a humiliating manner, fall within the scope of ragging. Ragging can occur inside the campus, in hostels, canteens, transport vehicles, or even outside the campus if it involves students of the institution. Any student who has also experienced sexual harassment at an educational or workplace setting should be aware that additional protections may apply under the POSH Act framework.
How to File a Complaint (Three Channels)
Victims of ragging, their parents, or any witness can file a complaint through three main channels.
Channel 1: The National Anti-Ragging Helpline. Call 1800-180-5522, which is a 24x7, toll-free helpline operated by the monitoring agency appointed by the UGC. The helpline accepts complaints from students, parents, and third parties. When you call, you will be asked for details including the institution's name, the nature of the incident, and the identities of the perpetrators (if known). The helpline forwards the complaint to the institution and the UGC for action.
Channel 2: The online portal (antiragging.in). Visit www.antiragging.in and submit a written complaint. The portal allows you to upload supporting evidence, such as photographs, screenshots, or medical reports. Your complaint is assigned a reference number, and the portal tracks its status. The institution is required to respond within a specified time frame.
Channel 3: The institution's Anti-Ragging Committee. Every institution affiliated with or recognised by a university is required to constitute an Anti-Ragging Committee (ARC) headed by the head of the institution, and an Anti-Ragging Squad for on-ground enforcement. Submit a written complaint to the ARC. The committee must investigate and submit its findings within a reasonable time. If the institution does not have a functional ARC, that itself is a violation of the UGC Regulations.
In parallel with these channels, you can also file an FIR with the police for criminal offences arising from the ragging incident. This is independent of the institutional complaint.
What Happens After a Complaint
Once a complaint is received, the institution's Anti-Ragging Committee must investigate. The UGC Regulations require institutions to take immediate action, including interim suspension of the accused students pending investigation.
If the accused students are found guilty, the following institutional penalties may be imposed: suspension from attending classes and academic privileges; debarring from appearing in any test or examination or other evaluation process; withholding results; withholding or withdrawing scholarship, fellowship, and other benefits; debarring from representing the institution in any regional, national, or international meet, tournament, or youth festival; suspension or expulsion from the hostel; cancellation of admission; rustication from the institution for a period ranging from one to four semesters; and expulsion from the institution with consequent debarring from admission to any other institution for a specified period.
Every student admitted to an institution must submit an anti-ragging affidavit, and their parent or guardian must also submit a separate affidavit. Failure to submit these affidavits can result in cancellation of admission. If the institution itself fails to act on complaints or fails to constitute an ARC, the UGC can take punitive action against the institution, including withdrawal of affiliation, debarring from receiving grants, and issuing orders for withholding student results until compliance is achieved.
Criminal Consequences Under BNS 2023
Ragging that involves physical violence, threats, or intimidation can attract criminal prosecution under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023. The relevant sections include:
Section 115(2) of BNS 2023 deals with voluntarily causing hurt. If ragging involves physical assault, such as punching, kicking, slapping, or any act causing bodily pain, the perpetrator can be punished with imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine of up to Rs 10,000, or both.
Section 351 of BNS 2023 covers criminal intimidation. If a senior student threatens a fresher with injury to their body, reputation, or property to coerce them into submission, this constitutes criminal intimidation, punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine, or both.
In severe cases involving sexual assault, wrongful confinement, or grievous hurt, the applicable penalties are significantly higher. If you need guidance on navigating criminal proceedings, understanding how to apply for bail under BNSS 2023 can be useful context. The Supreme Court of India, in the Vishwa Jagriti Mission case (2009), directed all states and institutions to implement the UGC Regulations and treat ragging complaints with the seriousness they deserve. Filing a complaint against an advocate who represents the institution but obstructs the anti-ragging process is also an option.
Related Reading
For related legal processes, these guides may help:
Key Takeaways
Ragging is both a disciplinary offence under the UGC Regulations, 2009 and a criminal offence under the BNS 2023. Complaints can be filed through the National Anti-Ragging Helpline (1800-180-5522, toll-free, 24x7), the online portal at antiragging.in, or the institution's Anti-Ragging Committee. Institutional penalties range from suspension to expulsion and rustication. Criminal penalties under BNS Section 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) include imprisonment up to one year and a fine up to Rs 10,000; under Section 351 (criminal intimidation), imprisonment up to two years. If the institution fails to act, the UGC can withdraw affiliation and grants. Every student and parent must submit anti-ragging affidavits at the time of admission.
Ragging is not a rite of passage; it is a crime. Use the complaint mechanisms available to you, and know that the law is firmly on the side of the victim.
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