20 dental colleges likely to lose registration for ragging menace

A stern action against noted medical colleges by the Dental Council of India (DCI) is on the cards. DCI is reported to have written to the health ministry to cancel the registration of 20 dental colleges. The reason is the noted ragging menace in these medical colleges. If approved, this will be a strong action against the said medical colleges for not stopping ragging incidents at its premise. If the ministry, after reviewing the recommendation decides to take a positive action, then these medical colleges will lose their registration.

The DCI had issued a directive to dental institutes in India to organise a workshop or a conference in October 2015. This program initiative was to a part of the periodic training imparted to members of anti-ragging cells. It is also addressed as anti-ragging committees or squads. The whole exercise was to heighten the issue and therefore, make students more aware of the issue.

DCI had requested these 20 dental colleges to share the list of participants in the workshop. The last date for submission of this list was October 31 along with video footage. Another letter followed as a reminder to 42 dental colleges. This time it came a warning that a strict action is imminent if the required details are not furnished.

"Since these dental colleges have not furnished the requisite information even after repeated requests, the executive committee has decided to initiate action against erring colleges," according to the DCI letter, issued on July 22, as accessed by TOI.

Action was impending under Section 11.4 of DCI regulations on curbing the menace of ragging in dental colleges, 2009. As per the section, DCI can initiate the de-recognition process against erring institutions, reduce admission capacity and stop further admissions, stop renewal of permission with respect to UG/PG dental courses.

The list of the medical colleges on which the threat looms.

Sri Balaji Dental College, R.R. Dist, Andhra Pradesh
Regional Dental College, Guwahati
Patna Dental College & Hospital, Patna
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Institute of Dental Sciences & Hospital, Patna
Mithila Minority Dental College & Hospital, Darbhanga
ESIC Dental College & Hospital, Delhi
Govt. Dental College, Srinagar
Indira Gandhi Government Dental College, Jammu
KGF College of Dental Sciences & Hospital, BEML Nagar
AME's Dental College & Hospital, Raichur
Hitkarini Dental College & Hospital, Jabalpur
Bhabha College of Dental Sciences, Bhopal
Govt. Dental College & Hospital, Aurangabad
Nanded Rural Dental College & Research Centre, Nanded
Rajesh Ramdasji Kambe Dental College & Hospital, Akola
Sri Sukhmani Dental College & Hospital, Derabassi
NIMS Dental College, Jaipur
Faculty of Dental Sciences, King George's University of Dental Sciences, Lucknow
Harsaran Dass Dental College, Ghaziabad
School of Dental Sciences, Greater Noida

According to a PTI report, a total of 14 incidents of ragging have been reported in various medical colleges of the country in 2015-16 while there have been two deaths due to such incidents, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

"Number of cases reported or received by the Medical Council of India (MCI) for ragging during the last three years are 23 in 2013-14, 21 in 2014-15 and 14 in 2015-16.

Two cases of death have also been reported," Health Minister J P Nadda said in a written reply. The MCI with the approval of the government notified the Medical Council of India (Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging in Medical Colleges/Institutions) Regulations 2009 to curb the menace of ragging in medical colleges, he said.

Nadda said that the MCI has also created an anti-ragging cell headed by a nodal officer to look after the work relating to anti-ragging cases while executive committee members are deputed to enquire into the ragging cases in different colleges.

"MCI has requested (through a circular) all the medical colleges to provide information before starting the fresh batch (2015-16) of admissions w.r.t anti-ragging committee compositions, number of incidences of ragging reported and action taken, number of FIRs lodged and punishment awarded.

"It had also asked to include specific information on anti-ragging in admission brochures, prospectus and booklets.

"MCI has also forwarded the format of the poster and hoardings provided by the University Grants Commission to be placed in different parts of the colleges in front of the administration building and each hostel of the institute," Nadda said.

He said that to further broaden the definition of ragging and the scope of the application of "prevention and prohibition of ragging in medical colleges and Institutions regulations 2009", the same has been amended recently on March 23 this year.