:St. Joseph's College of Law:

Zero Tolerance Student Support

St. Joseph's College of Law, Bengaluru follows a zero-tolerance approach towards ragging and is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, inclusive and dignified academic environment for every student. The College's Policy on Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Ragging sets out the framework for preventing, reporting, investigating and redressing ragging.

Scope What is Ragging Special Measures Committee Report Ragging Redressal Procedure Punishments Helpline

The Policy is Framed with Reference to

1

The University Grants Commission (Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2009, as amended from time to time;

2

Directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India relating to the prevention and prohibition of ragging;

3

The Karnataka Education Act, 1983, particularly Section 116 relating to penalty for ragging;

4

Applicable rules, regulations and directions of the Karnataka State Law University (KSLU);

5

Applicable criminal and other laws in force in India; and

6

Rules, regulations and disciplinary standards of St. Joseph's College of Law.

Who & Where

Scope

Who the Policy Applies To

The Policy applies to all students of the College across all programmes and all years:

3 Year LL.B. B.A. LL.B. B.B.A. LL.B. B.Com. LL.B.

This includes freshers, senior students and students residing in hostels or other accommodation connected with the College. It also applies to student organisations, clubs, societies and committees, and to any person who abets, assists, encourages, instigates or participates in ragging.

Beyond the Classroom

Ragging may attract action even when it occurs outside the classroom, including:

In corridors, hostels or accommodation;

In the canteen, library, auditorium or sports facilities;

During College events, orientation or induction programmes;

During transport or travel connected with College activities;

During internships, court visits, study tours, moot court activities or other academic engagements; and

Through electronic or digital means.

Know the Line

What Constitutes Ragging

Ragging includes any conduct by one or more students, whether by words spoken or written or by an act, that causes or is likely to cause physical, psychological or emotional harm. It includes:

01

Humiliation or Rudeness

Teasing, insulting, ridiculing or subjecting a student to degrading or embarrassing treatment.

02

Forced or Unwanted Acts

Compelling a student to sing, dance, dress, speak, behave or act in a particular manner against their will, or to perform acts that cause shame or embarrassment.

03

Physical or Psychological Harm

Assault, threats of violence, or any conduct causing fear, anxiety or harm to a student's physical or mental well-being.

04

Intimidation and Abuse of Power

Threatening or coercing a student, misusing seniority, or requiring a junior to obey unlawful or unreasonable commands.

05

Wrongful Restraint or Confinement

Preventing a student from leaving a place or blocking access to classrooms, hostels or other facilities.

06

Academic or Institutional Misuse

Forcing juniors to complete academic or personal work for seniors, or to provide money, food, articles or services.

07

Online or Digital Ragging

Through messaging groups, social media or video calls, including posting humiliating content, forcing students to record or send degrading content, or threatening to publish personal information.

08

Discriminatory or Identity-Based Conduct

Conduct directed at a student because of caste, tribe, religion, language, gender, disability, region, ethnicity or socioeconomic background.

09

Sexualised or Sexually Humiliating Conduct

Sexual comments, gestures, unwanted touching or sexually humiliating tasks, which may also attract action under other laws and College policies.

Consent or participation obtained through pressure, seniority, intimidation, peer pressure or fear does not legitimise ragging.

Legal Education

Special Measures for a Law College

Recognising the professional nature of legal education, the College expressly prohibits:

Forcing juniors to address seniors using degrading or humiliating titles;
Forcing juniors to perform legal assignments or research for seniors;
Compelling juniors to attend unofficial meetings, or to provide money, food, transport or other services;
Humiliating students regarding their academic performance, language, appearance or legal knowledge;
Unofficial "courtroom" or "moot" exercises intended to humiliate students;
Compelling students to undertake acts in the name of "law school culture" or "professional training";
Using seniority in moot courts, legal aid cells, student committees or societies to intimidate juniors; and
Using College-related WhatsApp or social-media groups for coercive senior-junior initiation.

Seniors as Mentors

Senior students are encouraged to act as mentors and role models, upholding the professional values of:

Dignity Equality Fairness Courtesy Respect for Human Rights

Oversight

Anti-Ragging Committee

The College constitutes an Anti-Ragging Committee every academic year. The Committee ordinarily comprises:

Sl. No.	Designation	Role
1	Senior Faculty / Vice-Principal	Chairperson
2	Faculty members (up to 3)	Faculty Members / Convener
3	Student representatives (up to 2)	Student Members

The Committee

Oversees the College's anti-ragging measures

Monitors compliance

Conducts surprise inspections of vulnerable locations

Maintains heightened vigilance at the start of the academic year

Intervenes immediately where an incident appears to be occurring

Inquires into complaints

Recommends disciplinary action

Refers serious incidents to the police

Protects complainants from victimisation

Organises awareness programmes

With the approval of the Head of the Institution, the Committee may invite the assistance of the College Counsellor, parents or guardians, NGOs, or representatives of the civil administration or police.

Speak Up

Reporting Ragging

A complaint or information about ragging may be given by the affected student, a witness, a parent or guardian, a faculty member, a non-teaching employee, a hostel warden, or any other person with credible information. A complaint may be made:

In Writing

To the Principal / Head of Institution

To the Committee

To any member of the Anti-Ragging Committee

Verbally

Particularly where immediate intervention is necessary

antiragging@sjcl.edu.in

Step by Step

Complaint Redressal Procedure

Every complaint is handled promptly and fairly, with the student's safety placed first and the principles of natural justice followed throughout.

Interim report: within 10 days of the complaint.
Final report: within 10 working days of the interim report.

1
Receipt of Complaint

The Principal, Anti-Ragging Committee or authorised officer promptly records the complaint. Where there is an immediate risk to the student's safety, protective action is taken without waiting for the inquiry.
2
Immediate Protection

The College may separate the parties, provide medical assistance and counselling, change accommodation or classes, restrict contact, increase supervision, secure evidence and contact parents or guardians. Such measures are not a finding of guilt.
3
Preliminary Assessment

The Committee collects statements of the complainant, witnesses and accused, along with CCTV footage, messages, records and other evidence.
4
Inquiry 10 days

The Committee makes an interim report within 10 days of receiving the complaint. Students against whom allegations are made are given a fair opportunity to know and respond to the allegations, present evidence and identify witnesses, in accordance with the principles of natural justice.
5
Decision 10 working days

The Committee determines whether the allegations are established and recommends disciplinary action, making its final report within 10 working days of the interim report.
6
Police Action

Where the conduct also amounts to a criminal offence, the College reports the matter to the police or competent authority. Disciplinary and criminal proceedings may proceed independently.

Confidentiality and Protection from Retaliation

All complaints and proceedings are handled with appropriate confidentiality. The College prohibits retaliation against complainants or witnesses, threats, pressure to withdraw a complaint, victimisation, tampering with evidence and attempts to influence witnesses. Any such retaliation is itself disciplinary misconduct.

Consequences

Punishments

Depending on the nature and gravity of the offence, a student found guilty of ragging may face one or more of the following:

1Warning or censure;

2Written apology;

3Fine, where permitted by the applicable regulations;

4Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges;

5Withdrawal of scholarship, fellowship or other institutional benefits;

6Debarring from tests, examinations or other evaluation;

7Withholding of examination results;

8Debarring from representing the College in competitions, moot courts, sports, cultural events or other activities;

9Suspension or expulsion from hostel facilities;

10Cancellation of admission;

11Rustication for one to four semesters;

12Expulsion and consequent debarment from admission to another institution for a specified period; and

13Any other disciplinary measure permissible under UGC, KSLU or College regulations.

Action may be taken not only against those who commit ragging but also against those who instigate, encourage, assist, record or circulate it, threaten victims or witnesses, or conceal information to protect perpetrators. Where those responsible for group ragging cannot be individually identified, the College may take collective disciplinary measures in accordance with the UGC Regulations.

Criminal Liability

Ragging is not merely a breach of College discipline; it may be a criminal offence. Section 116 of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983 prohibits ragging and provides for imprisonment that may extend to one year, or a fine that may extend to ₹2,000, or both.

Depending on the facts, ragging may also attract offences under the general criminal law, including assault, hurt, wrongful restraint, intimidation, sexual offences and extortion.

1 YearImprisonment may extend to

₹2,000Fine may extend to

— or both —

Safe Campus

Prevention, Undertakings and Support

Prevention

The College conducts anti-ragging orientation for every incoming batch, sensitises senior students, faculty and staff, displays anti-ragging notices, monitors vulnerable areas and encourages structured orientation, faculty mentoring and peer mentoring.

All students and their parents or guardians are required to submit the anti-ragging undertaking online through the National Anti-Ragging Portal.

Support for Affected Students

Students affected by ragging will be offered:

Counselling
Academic support
Medical assistance where required
Help in reporting the incident and in communicating with parents or guardians
Protection from further contact or intimidation
Referral to external services where necessary

Appeal

A student against whom disciplinary action is taken may appeal in accordance with the applicable UGC Regulations, KSLU regulations, College rules and the competent appellate authority. Nothing in the Policy restricts any statutory or legal remedy available to a student.

Anti-Ragging