JU to hold back degrees of 15 ragging accused till court order
Times of India | 12 January 2025
123 Kolkata: Jadavpur University has decided to hold back the results and degrees of the 15 ragging-accused students, who moved Calcutta High Court after the varsity served them show-cause notices in July, until further order from the court. Sources said the decision was taken at an anti-ragging committee meeting on Wednesday as the matter is sub-judice.
A first-year Bengali honours student was a victim of ragging at the Main Hostel and died after a fall from the second-floor balcony of the hostel on Aug 10, 2023. JU in July issued show-cause notices to 32 students who were found guilty of being involved in the incident. Most of them are boarders of A2 block of the Main Hostel. Of them, JU implemented punishments in Sept for 17 students. The punishment included permanent hostel debarment and suspension for one semester.
An anti-ragging panel member said, "The decision to hold back results and degrees will only be applicable to those 15 students who were found guilty according to the university's probe report and moved HC after notices were served to them. Since the matter was sub-judice, JU could not implement their punishment but informed the court about the probe report and punishment recommendations. Therefore, it was decided that until further order from the court, their results and degrees will be held back. But, they will be attending classes, appearing for exams and staying at the hostel as per the HC's order."
Sources said of the 15 students, at least 8 are in their engineering final year and some have already secured job offers in their placement drive. The decision will also be communicated to the concerned departments, including the placement cell and controller of examination. "When a section of students is already serving the punishment, a serious step was needed from the authorities to make those 15 students accountable," said a teacher, adding that for those who are serving the punishment, the committee has suggested counselling so that it becomes easier for them to cope with studies after they return.
As per JU probe report, four out of the 15 students were recommended four-semester suspension and permanent debarment from hostel for direct involvement in criminal conspiracy. The rest were recommended one-semester suspension till Feb and hostel debarment for direct association with abetment to ragging.