Panel dismisses ragging charges, recommends fine on complainants

LUCKNOW : The Lucknow University probe committee that investigated into the incident of alleged ragging and misbehaviour by senior students reported a week back, has opined that at first sight the incident did not look like that of ragging.

“It rather seemed to be a fall out of the conflict and controversy in the cricket match played on February 4. The senior students felt humiliated and dishonoured after their defeat and therefore this led to their misbehaviour with junior students,” the committee in its report said.

Vice chancellor SP Singh said the committee had apprised him that junior students, in retaliation, tried to portray it as ragging The university had set up an inquiry into the incident that occurred in management boys’ hostel of second campus on February 4 and 5.

“The committee found that juniors tarnished the image of LU by lodging a complaint at UGC anti-ragging cell. The committee had recommended to impose fine on the complainant and the respondents both . The fine would constitute a sum equal to 25% of the total fee paid by students in one full year,” said VC who has submitted the committee report to state government.

LU spokesperson NK Pandey said, “The students will also have to give an affidavit on a non judicial stamp paper of Rs 100 mentioning that they will not resort to any such incident in future that may tarnish the image of the institution. If they do so, their studentship will be terminated. All the students involved in this particular incident will not be provided with hostel facility in present and subsequent semesters till their education is completed.” To recall, the LU administration on February 6 had suspended 22 students of MBA and BBA on charges of alleged ragging and misbehaviour.