The Telangana Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1997

THE TELANGANA PROHIBITION OF RAGGING ACT, 1997. (ACT NO. 26 OF 1997) ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Sections 1. Short title and commencement. 2. Definitions. 3. Prohibition of Ragging. 4. Penalty for Ragging. 5. Dismissal of student. 6. Suspension of student. 7. Abetment. 8. Other laws not affected. 9. Power to make rules. 10. Repeal of Ordinance. THE TELANGANA PROHIBITION OF RAGGING ACT, 1997.1 ACT No.26 OF 1997. 1. (1) This Act may be called the 2Telangana Prohibition Short title and of Ragging Act, 1997. commencement. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of 2Telangana; (3) It shall be deemed to have come into force with effect from the 4th July, 1997. 2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- Definitions. (a) “act” includes words either spoken or written or signs or sounds or gestures or visible representations; (b) “Educational Institution” means and includes a college, or other institution by whatever name called, carrying on the activity or imparting education therein (either exclusively or among other activities); and includes an orphanage or boarding home or hostel or a tutorial institution or any other premises attached thereto; (c) “Government” means the State Government of 2Telangana; 1. The Andhra Pradesh Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1997 received the assent of the Governor on the 19th August, 1997. The said Act in force in the combined State, as on 02.06.2014, has been adapted to the State of Telangana, under section 101 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (Central Act 6 of 2014) vide. the Telangana Adaptation of Laws Order, 2016, issued in G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016. 2. Substituted by G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016. 2 [Act No.26 of 1997] (d) “notification” means the notification published in the 3Telangana Gazette and the word „notified‟ shall be construed accordingly; (e) “ragging” means doing an act which causes or likely to cause insult or annoyance of fear or apprehension or threat or intimidation or outrage of modesty or injury to a student; (f) “student” means a person who is admitted to an educational institution and whose name is lawfully borne on the attendance register thereof; (g) All words and expressions used but not defined in this Act shall have the meanings assigned to them under the 4Telangana Education Act, 1982 or the Indian Penal Code, Act 1 of 1982. Central Act 45 of 1860. 1860 respectively. Prohibition of 3. Ragging within or outside any educational institution is Ragging. prohibited. Penalty for 4. Whoever, with the intention of causing ragging or with Ragging. the knowledge that he is likely by such act to cause ragging, commits or abets ragging and thereby,- (i) teases or embarrasses or humiliates a student shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both; or (ii) assaults or uses criminal force to or criminally intimidates a student shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with both; or 3. Substituted by G.O.Ms.No.45, Law (F) Department, dated 01.06.2016. 4. Adapted by G.O.Ms.No.15, Higher Education (TE) Department, dated 23.04.2015. [Act No.26 of 1997] 3 (iii) wrongfully restrains or wrongfully confines or causes hurt to a student shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees or with both; or (iv) causes grievous hurt to or kidnaps or abducts or rapes or commits unnatural offence with a student shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees; or (v) causes death or abets suicide shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years and with a fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees. 5. (1) A student convicted, of an offence under section 4 Dismissal of and punished with imprisonment for a term shall be student. dismissed from the educational institution. (2) A student convicted of an offence under section 4 and punished with imprisonment for a term of more than six months shall not be admitted in any other educational institution. 6. (1) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions, Suspension of whenever any student complains of ragging to the head or student. manager of an educational institution, such head or manager shall inquire into or cause an inquiry to be made into the same forthwith and if the complaint is primafacie found true, shall suspend the student or students complained against for such period as may be deemed necessary. (2) The decision of the head or manager of the educational institution under sub-section (1) shall be final. 4 [Act No.26 of 1997] Abetment. 7. (1) If the head or the manager of an educational institution fails or neglects to take action in the manner specified in sub-section (1) of section 6, such person shall be deemed to have abetted the offence and shall be punished with the punishment provided for the offence. (2) If a student commits suicide due to or in consequence of ragging, the person who commits such ragging shall be deemed to have abetted such suicide. Other laws not 8. The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not affected. derogatory of any law for the time being in force. Power to make 9. (1) The Government may by notification, make rules for rules. carrying out all or any of the purposes of this Act. (2) Every rule made under this Act shall immediately after it is made, be laid before the Legislature of the State, if it is in session and if it is not in session, in the session immediately following for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised in one session or in two successive session, and if, before the expiration of the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following, the Legislature agrees in making any modification in the rule or in the annulment of the rule, the rule shall, from the date on which the modification or annulment is notified, have effect only in such modified form or shall stand annulled as the case may be so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule. Repeal of 10. The Andhra Pradesh Prohibition of Ragging Ordinance, Ordinance 12 of 1997 is hereby repealed. 1997. * * *