Kerala High Court: In a writ petition filed by Kerala State Legal Services Authority (‘KeLSA’) praying to direct Department of Higher Education, Directorate of Medical Education, Office of the Director General of Education, All India Council for Technical Education and Bar council of Kerala to give details of the steps taken by them as per University Grants Commission Regulations, 2009 to prevent and combat ragging in educational institutions in the State, the division bench of Nitin Jamdar, CJ. and C. Jayachandran, J. directed the Multidisciplinary Working Group, established by the State to address the deficiencies in the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1998, by proposing amendments and formulating rules, to convene a preliminary meeting promptly and outline a comprehensive plan of action.
Background
Kerala State Legal Services Authority has filed a writ petition, raising concerns about the increasing brutality of ragging in educational institutions. In considering the case, the Court in its previous order has emphasised the need for a strong legal framework and effective implementation of the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1998 and the UGC Regulations of 2009. The Court had directed the State to constitute a multidisciplinary working group comprising ex-officio members and nominated experts from various fields to draft the rules and assess whether any amendments to the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act of 1998 are necessary.
Analysis and Decision
The Court noted that pursuant to its earlier direction, the State Government had constituted a multidisciplinary working group by Government Order dated 25-03-2025.
The Court stated that the working group should hold a preliminary meeting, during which a further plan of action could be decided. If inputs from any other fields are necessary, the Chairman of the working group may invite relevant officers or experts to attend the meeting. The Chairman will also involve a representative from KeLSA. Additionally, any inputs submitted by the intervenors in writing should be presented before the working group.
Further, the Court highlighted that, as per Clause 6 of the Government Order, a representative must be nominated by the State Police Chief. Given the gravity of the issue, the Court specified that the nominee should be an officer of no lower rank than Inspector General of Police.
To allow the working group to hold its preliminary meeting and update the Court on the plan of action, the hearing of the petition has been deferred to 10-04-2025.
[Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA) v. Government of Kerala, 2025 SCC OnLine Ker 1835, decided on 27-03-2025]
