Ragging Fallout: Madras High Court Quashes Case, Urges Reflection on Inhuman Acts

In a recent judgment, the Madras High Court quashed criminal proceedings against seven students from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, who were accused of ragging—a brutal incident involving the physical assault and tonsuring of a junior student. Justice N Anand Venkatesh made this decision after being informed that the accused and the victim had reached a settlement. However, the judge expressed strong disapproval of ragging, emphasizing its inhuman nature.

Addressing the accused students present in court, Justice Venkatesh highlighted the severity of ragging, stating, "Ragging is an inhuman thing. If a person is deriving pleasure by subjecting another human being to torture, it means he is suffering from mental illness." He urged them to recognize the consequences of their actions and emphasized the value of education against overindulging in such reprehensible behavior.

The case originated in November 2023 when the Coimbatore police registered a criminal case against the engineering students. The allegations included assaulting a junior student who had refused to provide money for liquor. The accused reportedly beat the victim, shaved his head with a trimmer, and confined him in a room overnight.

During the court proceedings on February 22, the victim-student, accompanied by his father, informed Justice Venkatesh that the accused students had apologized for their actions. Expressing his desire not to pursue the case further, the victim's statement led the court to order the quashing of the pending criminal proceedings.

This judgment reflects a common challenge in addressing ragging incidents, where victims might feel pressured or hesitant to pursue legal actions against their perpetrators. The court's intervention and emphasis on the severity of ragging underscore the need for educational institutions to adopt stringent measures against such practices. The judge's stern remarks aim to discourage any future instances of ragging, emphasizing the importance of fostering a positive and safe learning environment in educational institutions.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT university