Complaint on the Ragging incident at VIMSAR, Burla lodged at OHRC by Ragging Free Campus Abhiyan (RFCA)
Bureau,Odishabarta
Bhubaneswar,15/03/21:Monday a Complaint on the Ragging incident at VIMSAR, Burla was lodged at Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) by Ragging Free Campus Abhiyan (RFCA) delegation led by its convenor Tejeswar Parida.
A Division Bench of OHRC consisting of Hon’ble Chairperson Sri Justice Bijoy Krishna Patel & Hon’ble Member Sri Asim Amitabh Dash did the hearing to the petition in the OHRC Court.
Considering the frequent incidences of heinous human rights abuse in the form of Ragging in different Academic Institutions, including the previous case at VSSUT, Burla and in this case VIMSAR Burla the Division went through different News Clippings of this incident which occurred on 10th March 2021 (Wednesday) late night for about 3 hours up to 3 am in the VIMSAR Hostels, which was reported by the junior students to Anti-Ragging Helpline at Delhi. RFCA lodged complaint against the culprit senior students and the Authorities of Institutions responsible. The Division Bench has served notice to the Superintendent of Police, Sambalpur and Registrar, VIMSAR on this complaint of Ragging.
Ragging Free Campus Abhiyan (RFCA) has also submitted to the OHRC Division Bench a set of very vital Suggestions to Prevent Ragging in Academic Campuses, on which the Division Bench has served notice to the Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, Government of Odisha.
As RFCA submitted different Supreme Court Guidelines, Judgements etc. to OHRC Court, the Court asked the Petitioner RFCA to provide more research inputs and to remain present in all the future hearings in this matter.
The next Hearing of this matter is scheduled to be on 26th April 2021.
The RFCA requested OHRC to ask the State Govt. to enact The Prohibition of Ragging Act in Odisha like in 7 other states( Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir) to constitute an Anti-Ragging Task Force to study and adopt different Supreme Court Judgements (1- by Justice Dr. Arijit Pasayat, 2- in the matter of Vishwa Jagriti Mission Vs. Central Govt.), 3- Dr. RK Raghavan Committee Report on Ragging.
Ragging Free Campus Abhiyan also suggested that Odisha Govt. should start an Anti-Ragging Cell and 24×7 Helpline at HQrs of Human Rights Protection Cell (HRPC) of Odisha Police at Cuttack, Mandatory submission of List of Anti Ragging Committee by Higher Academic Institutions prior to commencement of academic session every year, Strict CCTV Surveillance in the Campuses, Anti Ragging Committees should become more active and many other issues/suggestions.
The RFCA delegation consisted of Convenor Tejeswar Parida, Co-Convenors Mir Ahemad Alli, Nalini Kanta Nayak, Subrata Ku Jena, Gurudas Goutam Swain & Krupasindhu Pradhan.
Note:The Complaint Letter and all the Suggestions submitted to Hon’ble Division Bench of OHRC for the Prevention of Ragging have been attached with this Press Release
