Cracking the whip on ragging incidents, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has threatened to withdraw the approval of institutions under its purview if they fail in ensuring that menace of ragging does not take place at their campuses in any form.

The AICTE regulates government as well as private institutions imparting technical education in the field of management, engineering, technology, architecture, town planning, hotel management, pharmacy, applied arts and crafts and catering technology.

In a circular issued to all technical educational institutions (TEIs), regulatory body has warned that “should such a case (ragging) be reported or brought to the notice of the AICTE, the Council shall take necessary action including withdrawal of approval”.

Institutions have also been asked to insert a footnote that “ragging is prohibited as per the decision of the Supreme Court of India” in all their advertisements. They have also been asked to find a prominent display for this warning in their prospectus.

Apart from issuing this circular, the AICTE has also prescribed a proforma for all its approved institutions to monitor the directions of the Supreme Court on measures against ragging.

In the proforma, institutions have been asked to mention if they have taken the required action for checking ragging incidents. This part consists of nine questions that include if anti-ragging squads and anti-ragging committees have been constituted or not. Institutions also need to state if their prospectus mentions possible actions against ragging and that names, telephone numbers of authorities to be contacted have been made available to freshers (new students). The institutions have to also answer questions like whether students are allowed free access to phones in hostels for timely reporting (of ragging incidents), and also whether new and old students have been counseled.

Apart from this, the AICTE has sought information on number and frequency of raids conducted by the anti-ragging squads. The institutions need to mention the number of ragging cases detected, action taken, inquiries conducted and punishment meted out.

If an institution files first information report (FIR) with the police, it will have to mention number of such cases with details.

Besides, the AICTE has, through an advertisement, advised students, their parents and general public to report to it any instances of ragging in any form in institutions imparting technical education for taking appropriate action.

The above steps have been taken by the AICTE following the direction of the apex court for prevention of ragging in educational institutions.

The RK Raghavan committee which has been appointed by the SC for monitoring the measures to prevent ragging in higher educational Institutions had earlier this week asked the regulatory bodies including AICTE to prepare specific and strict regulations to enforce anti-ragging measures in them.