Despite clear legal prohibitions and widespread awareness campaigns, six students from an international school on the outskirts of Bengaluru were apprehended by the Bannerghatta police, alongside the arrest of their hostel warden, following the violent ragging and sexual assault of a 15-year-old student.
This incident exposes critical institutional failures, raising urgent questions about management accountability in preventing ragging—a practice illegal under Indian law since landmark Supreme Court directives and UGC regulations.
Chronology of Abuse and Institutional Negligence:
– Over four days (September 3–6), the victim endured sadistic torture by senior hostelmates, including being stripped, forced to dance naked, beaten with steel hangers, and subjected to alternating hot and cold water attacks.
– The victim reported the abuse to the hostel warden, who dismissed it as a “minor issue” despite the severity. Only after the victim’s parents intervened was a police complaint filed.
– The warden was arrested for criminal negligence under Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Juvenile Justice Act, and POCSO Act, while the principal was summoned for questioning.
Why Did Ragging Occur Despite Legal Prohibitions?
Ragging remains pervasive due to cultural normalization, institutional complicity, and weak enforcement** of anti-ragging measures:
1. Failure to Implement Mandatory Protocols:
Institutions are legally required to form Anti-Ragging Committees, conduct sensitization workshops, and monitor high-risk areas like hostels. This school clearly neglected these duties, allowing seniors to act with impunity.
2. Lax Supervision and Accountability:
Hostel wardens are mandated to be proactive, accessible, and vigilant. The warden’s dismissal of the victim’s complaint highlights gross dereliction of duty, perpetuating a culture of violence.
3. Ignoring Precedents and Warning Signs:
With recent student suicides linked to ragging (e.g., the July case of a Hassan engineering student driven to suicide by online harassment), institutions cannot claim ignorance. Management failed to warn seniors or reinforce zero-tolerance policies.
Legal and Ethical Responsibilities of Institutions:
– Under UGC regulations, institutions must register FIRs within 24 hours of ragging complaints and ensure victim protection.
Here, the warden’s inaction violated this mandate.
– The BNS 2023 and POCSO Act impose strict liability on institutions for endangering minors. Management could face charges under Section 107 of BNS for abetment through negligence.
– Civil liability may also arise: Courts can compel institutions to compensate victims for trauma and institutional failure.
Systemic Reforms Needed:
To prevent recurrence, institutions must:
– Implement 24/7 CCTV surveillance in hostels and common areas.
– Conduct regular anti-ragging workshops with senior students as mentors.
– Establish anonymous reporting systems and ensure prompt police liaison.
This case is a stark reminder that legal bans alone are insufficient. Institutional managers must actively enforce policies, prioritize student safety over reputation, and face severe penalties for negligence.
The Bengaluru school’s failure to protect a child—despite known risks—demands not just legal action but a systemic overhaul of institutional accountability mechanisms.
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