In Ahmedabad, the Gujarat administration has asserted that individuals subject to hazing or witnesses thereof who refrain from reporting such occurrences will face appropriate consequences. The government resolution (GR) aimed at combating the scourge of hazing in higher educational institutions outlines penalties ranging from temporary suspension of educational privileges to outright expulsion. Additionally, it stipulates measures that effectively bar a student from enrolling in any educational institution for up to five years. Collective sanctions are also prescribed in cases where perpetrators or accomplices remain unidentified.
Freshmen who neglect to report hazing incidents, whether as victims or bystanders, will likewise face repercussions, as articulated in the GR issued by the higher education department. The state authorities presented a copy of this resolution before a division bench presided over by Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal, who was adjudicating a suo motu PIL concerning hazing incidents in medical colleges.
The GR is grounded in the anti-hazing regulations delineated by the University Grants Commission and the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). Notably, it mandates that migration or transfer certificates issued to students by educational institutions contain records indicating whether the student has been disciplined for involvement in hazing activities.
Furthermore, such certificates are required to document any instances of persistent violent or aggressive behavior or any proclivity towards harming others. The resolution also dictates unrestricted access to mobile and public phones within hostels and campuses. Conversely, the use of phones is to be restricted in academic settings such as classrooms, seminar halls, and libraries through the deployment of signal jammers.
In addition to these provisions, institutional heads are obligated to furnish weekly reports on anti-hazing measures’ efficacy to the respective university vice chancellor for the first three months of each academic year, followed by monthly reports thereafter. The GR advocates for regular psychological counseling sessions, awareness campaigns via posters and workshops, and the integration of anti-hazing topics into teacher training and BEd courses.
Furthermore, privately managed accommodations and hostels must register with local law enforcement, with authorities tasked with maintaining vigilance and accountability for any hazing incidents on such premises. Institutions are mandated to include explicit statements in admission advertisements denouncing hazing, and all related documents must incorporate directives from the Supreme Court and/or state and central governments.
Moreover, institutions are required to inform parents or guardians of first-year students about anti-hazing legislation and urge them to dissuade their wards from engaging in such behavior upon their return for the subsequent academic year. Anti-hazing committees comprising faculty, students, and parents representing both freshmen and senior categories, as well as non-teaching staff, must be established by educational institutions.
Additionally, institutions are directed to establish anti-hazing squads and monitoring cells to oversee the implementation of orientation programs and counseling sessions addressing hazing incidents.
