Ramesh Chennithala, MLA, has filed a petition seeking to be impleaded in a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought a directive to the government to reassess the Prohibition of Ragging (Kerala) Act, 1998, and to frame rules to ensure the eradication of ragging from educational institutions.
Stating that ragging in educational institutions is closely linked to the availability of drugs and other contraband, he contended that addressing ragging in isolation without implementing measures to curb the availability of drugs would be ineffective. He further said that political patronage extended to students is a major factor contributing to the rise in ragging incidents and drug use. Instead of receiving academic and administrative support, those speaking against such activities were often penalised by the State administration because the accused students have political affiliation with the ruling dispensation, Mr. Chennithala said.
The PIL in this regard had been filed by the Kerala Legal Services Authority (KeLSA). In a previous hearing, the High Court had directed the State government to constitute a multidisciplinary working group to draft comprehensive rules for the effective implementation of the Act. The petition would be considered on Wednesday.
Published – March 18, 2025 09:35 pm IST
