The University Grants Commission has issued guidelines to the states urging them to form a district-level anti-ragging committee to curb the menace of ragging at the Higher Educational Institutes of the country. This has been issued in compliance with the directives of the Hon'ble Supreme Court and is mandatory for the institutes to follow them.

"It is brought to your kind notice that ragging is a criminal offence and UGC has framed Anti Ragging Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions - 2009 in order to prohibit, prevent and eliminate the scourge of ragging," said UGC in its letter to the states.

"If any institution fails to take adequate steps to prevent ragging or does not act in accordance with these regulations or fails to punish perpetrators of incidents of ragging suitably, it will attract punitive actions as per UGC Regulations for Curbing the Menace of Ragging - 2009," the letter added.

UGC has asked the district committees to hold preparatory meetings during the summer vacation to take stock of the state of preparedness of each institution and their compliance with the policies.

The anti-ragging committee will consist of

1. District Collector as the head of the committee

2. Head of the concerned University/College/Institution - Member

3.Superintendent of Police/SSP - Member

4. Additional District Magistrate - Member Secretary

5. Representative of the Local Media

6. Representative from District Level Non-Government Organisations

7. Representatives from student organisations

8. Local Police, Local administration as well as Institutional Authorities