Ragging of 100 First year MBBS Students at MLN Medical College: NHRC take Suo Motu Cognizance

Lucknow: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC ) has issued notices to Uttar Pradesh government and principal of Moti Lal Nehru Medical College in Allahabad over ragging of students and has sought a detail report within four weeks time.

NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that around 100 MBBS students, including boys and girls, have been subjected to inhuman treatment in the name of ragging at Moti Lal Nehru Medical College in Allahabad.

A commission statement here on Thursday said that as per the news report, carried on August 30, about 150 students have been admitted in the 1st year of MBBS course out of which, 40 are female students. Some of the students have reportedly raised their objection and they were beaten up.

The students have told the media on the condition of anonymity that they are being subjected to torture and are being threatened that their career will be spoiled in case any complaint is made by them with the authorities.

The Commission has issued notices to the UP Chief Secretary and the Principal, Motilal Nehru Medical College, Allahabad calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks, including the steps taken against the guilty students and officers and measures taken for safety of the students creation of a healthy environment for the students within the college.

The Commission has also directed the Secretary, Union Ministry of Human Resource Development to submit a status report regarding effective implementation of the recommendations of the Raghavan Committee, affirmed by the Supreme Court of India, in educational institutions across the country. He has been given four weeks for the response. While issuing the notices the Commission has observed that the ragging has been banned in the academic institutions, schools and colleges.

The University Grants Commission has issued guidelines on the subject to be followed by all educational institutions. The Medical Council of India has issued Medical Council of India (Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging in Medical Colleges/ Institutions) Regulations, 2009 to root out ragging in all forms from medical colleges/ institutions in the country by prohibiting it by law.

The Apex Court has also directed that number of recommendations made by the Raghavan Committee be implemented by taking confidence-building measures and formation of Anti-Ragging Committees in the institutions. The Commission while considering a complaint received from Prof. Raj Kachroo, Aman movement for Eradication of Ragging has expressed its firm view against ragging and has directed the universities across the country to strictly follow the guidelines issued by the Apex Court as well as the University Grants Commission on the subject. In spite of all these efforts, in such a large number, 1st-year students of a prestigious medical college in Allahabad have been allegedly subjected to such inhuman treatment in the name of ragging.

"This amounts to the violation of human rights of the innocent students. Their Right to Dignity appears to have been grossly violated due to negligence by the college administration. According to the media report, the junior students have been forced to bow down and Salaam (salute) everyone including Class-IV employees of the college." the notice stated

"It is also mentioned that heads of 100 students have been tonsured in the name of ragging. The students are under severe fear and nervousness but the college administration is silent. Even the girl students have not been spared as they have been directed to apply oil on their hair and make a Juda (puff). They are not allowed to keep their hair untied."

"Reportedly, in spite of all this, no student could dare to come forward to lodge a complaint with the Anti Ragging Cell of the college. As per the report, neither the college administration has provided any facility of counselling to the students nor it has provided a safe environment to the fresh students," the notice added