The Supreme Court of India, in the Writ Petition (Civil) No.656 of 1998, passed an order in 2001 in which it issued the following orders for Educational Institutions:

Anti –ragging movements should be initiated by the institutions right from the time of advertisement for admissions. The prospectus, the form for admission/or any other literature issued to aspirants for admission must clearly mention that ragging is banned in the institution and any one indulging in ragging is likely to be punished appropriately. The punishment may include expulsion from the institution, suspension from the institution or classes for a limited period or fine with a public apology. The punishment may also take the shape of:

• Withholding scholarships or other benefits.
• Debarring from representation in events.
• Withholds results
• Suspension or expulsion from hostel or mess and the like. If there be any legislation governing ragging or any provisions in the statute / Ordinances “they should be brought to the notice of students ( and their parents )seeking admission”.

The application form for admission / enrolment shall have printed undertaking to be filled up and signed by the candidate to the effect that he/she is aware of the institution’s approach towards ragging and the punishments to which he or she be liable if found guilty of ragging. Similar undertaking shall be obtained from the parent/guardian of the applicant.

A printed leaflet detailing when and to whom one has to turn for information, help and guidance for various purposes, keeping in view the needs of entrants in the institution, along with the addresses and telephone numbers of such persons, should be given to fresher’s a of admissions so that the fresher’s need not look up to the seniors for help in such matters and feel indebted to or obliged by them.

The management, the Principal, the teaching staff should interact with fresher’s and take them in confidence by apprising them of their rights as well as obligations to fight against ragging and generate confidence in their mind that any instance of ragging to which they are subjected or which comes in their knowledge should forthwith be brought to their knowledge and shall promptly built faith while protecting the complaints from any harassment by perpetrators of ragging. It would be better if the head of the institution or a person high in authority addresses meeting of teachers, parents and students collectively or in groups in this behalf.

At the commencement of academic session the institutions should constitute a pretrial committee consisting of senior faculty members and hostel authorities like wardens and a few responsible senior students to keep a continuous watch and vision over ragging so as to prevent its occurrence and recurrence to promptly deal with incidents of ragging brought to its notice and avoid summarily punish the guilty either by itself or by putting forth its finding, recommendation, suggestions before the authority competent to take decisions. The local community and the students in particular must be made aware of perversity, posters, notice boards and signboards wherever necessary, may be used for the purpose.

Failure to prevent ragging shall be construed as an act of negligence in maintaining discipline in the institution on the part of the management, the principal and persons in authority of the institution similar responsibility shall be liable to be fixed on hostel wardens/ superintendent. If achieves the same. A university may consider disaffiliating a college or institution failing to curb ragging.

The hostel accommodation where fresher’s are accommodated shall be carefully guarded of necessary by hostel security personnel and placed in the charge of a warden / superintendent who should himself / herself decide that when and where the entry of senior and outsiders shall be prohibited after specified hour of night and before except under the permission of the person in charge. Entry at other times may also be regulated.

If the individuals committing or abetting ragging are not identified collective punishment could be resorted to act as a deterrent punishment and to ensure collective pressure on the potential raggers.

Migration certificate issued by the institution should have an entry apart from that of general conduct and behavior whether the student had participated in, and in particular was punished for ragging.

The Universities and the institutions shall at a reasonable time before the commencement of an academic year, and thereafter at such frequent intervals as may ne expedient deliberate over and devise such positive and constructive activities to be arranged by involving the students generally so that the seniors and juniors and the existing students and the fresher’s, interact with each other in a healthy atmosphere and develop a friendly relationship so as to behave like members of a family in an institution. Seniors or juniors should be encouraged to exhibit their talents in such events so as to shed their complexes.