Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009
No: 12 Dated: Sep, 11 2009
THE HIMACHAL PRADESH EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (PROHIBITION OF RAGGING) ACT, 2009
(ACT NO. 12 OF 2009)
An Act to provide for prevention of the evil practice of ragging in educational institutions in the State of Himachal Pradesh and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh in the Sixtieth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-
1. Short title and commencement.- (1) This Act may be called the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009.
(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force on 25 th day of March, 2009.
2. Definitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) “educational institution” means any University, any College affiliated to or maintained by the University, any school imparting secondary education, any school, Polytechnic or institution imparting technical education and includes such other institutions as may be notified by the State Government in the Official Gazette;
(b) “Officer-in-Charge” means and includes person appointed as the Principal of College, Head of Hostel, Dean of Faculty, Head of Teaching Department or the institution, the authority of the College, Warden or Manager (by whatever name called) of Hostel or canteen, the Student Welfare Officer or the Librarian of the College and University Library, Principal, Headmaster, Warden, Manager or teacher of the educational institution; and
(c) “ragging” means any act, conduct or practice by which dominant power of senior students, former students or outsiders, is brought to bear on students freshly enrolled or students who are in any way considered junior by other students and includes individual or collective acts or practices which-
(i) involve physical or psychological assault or threat or use of force or wrongful confinement or restraint; or
(ii) violate the status, dignity and honour of such students; or
(iii) expose students to ridicule and contempt and affect their self-esteem; or
(iv) entail verbal abuse and aggression, indecent gestures and obscene behaviour.
3. Prohibition of ragging.- (1) No person shall practise ragging in any form, within or outside the premises of an educational institution.
(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1), shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees or with both.