The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC organised a three-day National Seminar on 'Ragging: Legal & Human Rights Dimensions' in collaboration with the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) at its campus auditorium, Kalamassery in Kochi from the 25th - 27th March, 2015. Justice Shri K.G. Balakrishnan, Chairperson, NHRC inaugurated the seminar as the Chief Guest which was presided over by Prof. (Dr.) Rose Varghese, Vice-Chancellor, NUALS. NHRC Members, Justice Shri Cyriac Joseph and Shri S.C. Sinha addressed the gathering as the Keynote Speaker and the Guest of Honour respectively.
The aim of the seminar was to discuss various aspects related to the ragging and how it could be stopped. The seminar was divided into five academic sessions apart from the inaugural and valedictory sessions.
Several prominent speakers included, among others, Dr. (Smt.) Meera Kaura Patel, Advocate, Shri Chaman Lal, Former DGP, Prof. (Dr.) K.N. Chandrasekharan Pillai, former Director, Indian Law Institute, New Delhi, Justice Shri K.T. Sankaran, Judge, High Court of Kerala, Dr. Alexander Jacob, IPS, Managing Director, Kerala Police Housing Corporation, Shri M.B. Rajesh, MP, Dr. Sebastian Paul, Former MP, Dr. S.D. Singh, Psychologist, Dr. N.K. Jayakumar, Former Vice-Chancellor, NUALS, Prof. M.C. Valson, NULAS and Dr. Ranjit Singh, Joint Secretary, NHRC.
Prof. P.J. Kurien, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha addressed the concluding session of the seminar as the Chief Guest on the 27th March, 2015. Some of the suggestions which emerged during the discussions were as follows:
1. A more comprehensive, clear and pragmatic definition must be incorporated in the relevant laws and regulations to curb the menace of ragging in educational institutions and all States in the country should enact a law to deal with this.
2. It would be desirable that the Central Government made a law on ragging applicable to all States.
3. More emphasis should be given to preventive measures rather than action after the ragging.