The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued show-cause notices to four universities in Gujarat for failing to comply with the UGC Anti-Ragging Regulations, 2009. The institutions include three universities from Ahmedabad — Gujarat University of Transplantation Sciences, MK University, and SKIPS University — and one from Jamnagar, the Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda.
These universities are among 89 across India that have received such notices.
The UGC stated in its notice:
“It has come to the attention of the University Grants Commission (UGC) that your institution has failed to submit the mandatory Anti-Ragging Undertakings by students and the Compliance Undertaking by your institution, despite multiple advisories from the UGC, follow-up calls by the Anti-Ragging Helpline, and interventions by the Anti-Ragging Monitoring Agency. As you are aware, adherence to the UGC Regulation on Ragging, 2009 is mandatory for all Higher Education Institutions. Failure to comply not only violates UGC guidelines but also endangers student safety, especially in view of rising concerns around ragging and campus hostility.”
The UGC has directed the universities to collect online anti-ragging undertakings from all students and submit their institutional compliance reports within 30 days. They must also provide a detailed account of the steps taken to prevent ragging on campus.