Anit-ragging Policy

1. Our Commitment

Ekta College of Pharmacy is committed to providing a safe, respectful, inclusive, and ragging-free environment for all students.

The College follows a zero-tolerance approach towards ragging in any form. Ragging is prohibited on the college campus and in any activity associated with the institution, whether conducted within or outside the campus.

No student shall be subjected to humiliation, intimidation, physical or mental abuse, coercion, harassment, or any activity that compromises their dignity, safety, or well-being under the pretext of introduction, friendship, familiarisation, tradition, or initiation into college life.

The College shall take appropriate preventive, investigative, disciplinary, and legal measures in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

2. Legal and Regulatory Framework

This policy shall be implemented in accordance with applicable provisions of:

Pharmacy Council of India Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Pharmacy Colleges, 2011.
University Grants Commission Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009, including applicable amendments.
Relevant directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
Other applicable central and state laws, regulatory directions, and institutional rules.

This policy shall be read together with the applicable statutory and regulatory provisions. Where any provision of this policy conflicts with a binding legal requirement, the applicable legal requirement shall prevail.

3. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to:

All students, including freshers and senior students.
Teaching and non-teaching staff, administrators, and institutional representatives in their official roles.
Persons engaged in activities on behalf of or in association with the College.
Conduct connected with college premises, classrooms, laboratories, libraries, canteen facilities, hostels, transportation, educational visits, extracurricular activities, and other college-related events.
Ragging or associated harassment carried out through electronic communications, messaging services, social media, or other digital means where connected with the institution or its students.

The policy applies whether the conduct occurs within the campus or elsewhere in circumstances covered by the applicable regulations.

4. What Constitutes Ragging?

Ragging includes any conduct prohibited under the applicable anti-ragging regulations. Examples may include, but are not limited to:

Physical abuse, assault, threats, intimidation, or the use of force against a student.
Verbal abuse, obscene or humiliating remarks, name-calling, insulting behaviour, or deliberate humiliation.
Compelling a student to perform an act they would not ordinarily perform and which causes shame, embarrassment, mental distress, or physical discomfort.
Forcing students to participate in activities, rituals, introductions, performances, or tasks against their will.
Demanding money, goods, personal services, or other benefits through intimidation or coercion.
Deliberately isolating, bullying, threatening, or harassing a student.
Circulating insulting photographs, videos, messages, or other material to embarrass or intimidate a student.
Sexual harassment, discriminatory abuse, or other unlawful conduct directed at a student.
Encouraging, assisting, concealing, or participating in activities that constitute ragging.

An activity does not become acceptable merely because it is described as a joke, a tradition, a voluntary introduction, or a form of interaction between seniors and juniors. Consent, social pressure, or the claimed absence of harmful intent does not automatically make prohibited conduct permissible.

5. Preventive Measures

The College shall take appropriate preventive measures in accordance with applicable regulations, including:

Constituting and maintaining an Anti-Ragging Committee and Anti-Ragging Squad, with designated responsible officers.
Displaying anti-ragging notices, applicable penalties, reporting procedures, and relevant contact details at appropriate locations.
Creating awareness among students, parents, guardians, faculty members, and non-teaching staff.
Informing newly admitted students and their parents or guardians about anti-ragging requirements and available reporting channels.
Obtaining and maintaining anti-ragging undertakings or affidavits as required by applicable regulations.
Taking reasonable steps to identify, prevent, and promptly address circumstances that may expose students to ragging.
Cooperating with the competent regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies where required.

The College shall periodically review its preventive arrangements and take appropriate action where weaknesses are identified.

6. Reporting a Ragging Incident

Any student who experiences or witnesses ragging, or any parent, guardian, or other person who becomes aware of a suspected incident, is encouraged to report it promptly.

A complaint may be submitted through the following channels:

The College’s designated Anti-Ragging Nodal Officer.
The Anti-Ragging Committee or Anti-Ragging Squad.
The Principal or other appropriate institutional authority.
The National Anti-Ragging Helpline or official anti-ragging portal.
The police or other competent authority where appropriate, particularly in cases involving immediate danger or suspected criminal conduct.

Reports should include, where possible, the nature of the incident, date and place, persons involved, available evidence, and contact details for follow-up. However, a person should not delay seeking help merely because all details or evidence are not available.

National Anti-Ragging Helpline

24-hour toll-free helpline: 1800-180-5522
Email: helpline@antiragging.in
Website: https://www.antiragging.in/

Complaints may also be registered through the National Anti-Ragging Portal.

In an emergency involving immediate danger, the affected person should prioritise personal safety and contact the appropriate emergency services or police.

7. Complaint Handling and Investigation

Every reported incident shall be treated seriously and handled promptly by the appropriate institutional authority.

Depending on the circumstances and applicable requirements, the College shall:

Take appropriate immediate steps to address safety concerns and prevent further harm.
Refer the matter to the designated Anti-Ragging Committee, Nodal Officer, or other competent authority.
Make appropriate arrangements for a fair and impartial examination of the complaint.
Consider relevant evidence and provide the persons concerned an appropriate opportunity to respond, in accordance with the applicable procedure.
Take suitable interim, protective, disciplinary, or legal measures where warranted.
Report incidents to competent authorities and cooperate with external investigations where required.

The College shall make reasonable efforts to protect the privacy of affected students and witnesses, subject to the requirements of a fair investigation and applicable law.

No person shall intimidate, threaten, or retaliate against a student or witness for raising a concern or cooperating in an investigation.

8. Disciplinary and Legal Consequences

A student found responsible for ragging may face one or more disciplinary measures, depending on the nature and seriousness of the conduct and the applicable regulations.

These measures may include:

Suspension from classes or other academic activities.
Restriction from institutional facilities or activities, where permitted.
Withdrawal of scholarships or other institutional benefits, where applicable.
Debarment from examinations or withholding of results, where permitted.
Suspension from the institution.
Cancellation of admission.
Rustication or expulsion, where applicable.
Collective disciplinary measures in circumstances expressly permitted by the relevant regulations.

Where an incident may constitute a criminal offence, the College may refer the matter to the police or other competent authorities. Institutional disciplinary proceedings do not prevent appropriate legal proceedings under applicable law.

All action shall be taken in accordance with the applicable regulations, prescribed procedure, and principles of fairness.

9. Responsibilities of Students

Every student is expected to:

Treat fellow students with dignity and respect.
Refrain from initiating, participating in, encouraging, or concealing ragging.
Cooperate with preventive measures and institutional investigations.
Report incidents or credible concerns through the available reporting channels.
Respect the rights, safety, and personal boundaries of others.

Senior students shall not use their status, experience, or influence to intimidate or coerce junior students.

10. Responsibilities of Parents and Guardians

Parents and guardians are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the College’s anti-ragging policy, complete the required undertakings, and report any concerns promptly.

The College welcomes cooperation from parents and guardians in maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment.

Students may also contact the Principal through the College’s officially published contact details.

12. Review of the Policy

This policy shall be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to reflect changes in applicable laws, regulatory directions, and institutional arrangements.

All students and members of the College community are expected to cooperate in maintaining a safe, respectful, and ragging-free educational environment.

Ekta College of Pharmacy
Sihur, Tapan, Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal, India.