Students register for admission to NIT-Patna on Friday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

National Institute of Technology, Patna, has constituted a flying squad to keep a tab on ragging incidents on campus.

With the admission and registration process of first-year undergraduate students beginning on Friday, the institute administration has decided on awareness programmes, committees and guidelines. The processes will continue on Saturday and the new academic session will start from Monday.

The flying squad comprises deans, heads of departments, hostel wardens and senior teachers.

Dean, students’ welfare, M.M. Chaudhary said: “The 21-member flying squad will be vigilant on campus and keep tabs on any ragging incidents.” He added that if any fresher is subjected to ragging on campus, he or she can directly approach any of the flying squad members.

Sanjay Kumar, a teacher and a member of the squad, said: “The Supreme Court has imposed a ban on ragging at educational institutions but even today freshers do not know about the various forms of ragging and the laws under which a person ragging them can be punished.”

The flying squad apart, the institute’s existing seven-member anti-ragging committee would keep checks on ragging incidents in the hostels and departments.

According to the Supreme Court directive, any disorderly conduct whether by words, spoken or written, or by an act which amounts to teasing or treating or handling any junior student in a rude manner, indulging in rowdy or indisciplined activities can be termed as ragging.

With the start of the new session, the institute will also carry out awareness programmes, informing freshers about the anti-ragging measures taken by the administration.

Students welcomed the decision. A second-year student said: “It is good that the institute has decided to be more vigilant in checking ragging incidents. Many undergraduate students are usually hesitant to complain against ragging complaints, as on many occasions, action is not taken.”

Sources said the flying squad and anti-ragging committee would assist students coming from non-Hindi speaking states adjust to the new environment, language and food habits.

Opinions of students from other states would also be sought while deciding the menu at their mess, they said.