New Delhi, 7 March 2022 – A ragging video that shows 27 students of the Haldwani Government Medical College (Nainital District, Uttrakhand) has gone viral on social media. All of these students have their heads shaven, hands tied at the back, and are walking around the campus in a queue.
The video shows these students wearing lab coats and face masks. They are avoiding any eye contact and are chanting “Doctor Sahab Namaskar” (Salutations Doctor Sir!). A guard is also seen keeping the students in line.
As no formal complaint has been lodged by aggrieved students, the college management has denied any such incident in the college. The college’s Public Relations Officer, Alok Upreti noted, “We have spoken to students but no such incident has come to the fore. The students we have spoken to have denied being ragged by their seniors.”
Note: The 27 students seen walking in circles with their heads down are first-year MBBS students of the medical college. They are allegedly being ragged by their seniors. However, the Haldwani Police and the college administration have both not received any formal complaint regarding the issue.
College Administration Begins Probe, Promises Strict Action
Following the video going viral, the Haldwani Government Medical College administration has called for a probe into the matter. The disciplinary committee and the anti-ragging panel, with officials from the district administration, will talk to the students and recommend action if ragging is established.
The Principal of the college, Arun Joshi, told Indian Express, “If it is proved that the ragging did take place on the campus then the harshest possible action will be taken against those responsible … The students have given different reasons for shaving their heads. Some said it was because of the heat and some cited a dandruff problem. However, it is possible that they were under pressure to give such reasons.”
“Taking cognisance of the matter, we have called the disciplinary committee meeting on Monday [7 March]. We will ask the first-year students to give their statements in writing [and] ask them to cite reasons for shaving their heads and if they were pressured in any way. Since there is suspicion of ragging, an anti-ragging committee meeting will also take place and it will also involve the district administration,” he further stated.
UGC Anti-Ragging Cell
As per the Anti-Ragging Cell of the UGC, ragging has ruined countless innocent lives and careers.
Between 18 April 2012 and 7 March 2022, the the Anti-Ragging Cell shows the given ragging-related data:
UGC Anti-Ragging Law
To eliminate ragging in all its forms from universities, deemed universities, and other higher educational institutions in the country, the University Grants Commision (UGC) has prohibited ragging under its regulations, preventing its occurrence and punishing those who indulge in the practice through the appropriate law in force.
To read the complete summary of the Anti-Ragging Law, please click here.
