[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/city/delhi/New-ragging-cases-surface-in-JNU/articleshow/4908167.cms] Manash Pratim Gohain, TNN 19 August 2009, 12:19am IST
NEW DELHI: What was being seen as a one-off complaint about ragging on August 12 seems to have opened a can of worms at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Following a three-day investigation and questioning of over 40 students, 15 more showcause notices were issued on Tuesday. Interestingly, the investigation team has come across new cases of ragging in the current academic session which had gone unreported so far. Meanwhile, even as the proctoral team completed its investigation and has the report ready, it will not be submitting it as scheduled since the vice-chancellor is not available. "We are going to submit the report only on Thursday as the VC is not available now,'' said H B Bohidar, chief proctor, JNU. On August 12, a first-semester MCA student, Balbir Chand, had made a complaint about being ragged to the dean of students' welfare. Following this, the anti-ragging committee caught red-handed four senior students of MCA indulging in the act of ragging at Sabarmati hostel. The four were placed under expulsion from hostel the next day and an inquiry was instituted. However, the incident came as an eye-opener for JNU administration, as the inquiry committee came across fresh unreported incidents of ragging. The committee has issued 19 showcause notices, including the four issued earlier to the expelled students. The students who have been served the showcause notice have been asked to furnish an explanation by Wed evening. Speaking to Times City, Bohidar said: "In the past three days we have questioned over 40 students, both seniors and juniors. We had a meeting till late evening on Tuesday and decided to issue showcause notices to 15 more students all from MCA third-semester as to why action should not be taken against them for indulging in ragging. This is a new twist to the investigations as we came across past incidents of ragging from the current academic session which have not been reported.'' Meanwhile, the JNU administration said it would take the strictest action if anyone was found guilty of ragging. This is the first time incidents of ragging are coming to light in JNU in 40 years. Rector II of JNU, Ram Adhikari Kumar, said: "The investigation team has really worked on an urgency note and is now fine tuning the report. Once the culprits are identified after the report is submitted and the inquiry comes to a conclusion, the university would not hesitate to take action against the accused.'' -- Posted By Ragging News to Ragging News From Indian Colleges at 8/19/2009 12:52:00 AM
