Hyderabad, Feb 12th: The State government on Friday introduced a bill in the Assembly which will convert into an Act once passed by both the houses of the state legislature and approved by the governor. The Assembly is expected to pass the bill on Monday. UP becomes one of the selected states in the country to bring a stringent law to prevent ragging, which has become a problem for the government during every new academic session of different engineering, medical and professional course institutions in the state.

As per the new law, a student found guilty of ragging will be served with 5 year ban in admission in any educational institutions. The students could be punished with up to 2 years in jail and Rs 10,000 as fine for their misdeed, the bill said. The bill has given a reprieve to the accused students who can also file appeal before the competent authorities to give their version. According to the new proposed law, the guardian, student or parents can lodge complaint of ragging with the head of the educational institution within 7 days of the incident. After making a preliminary probe, the institution head, if find the accused guilty will have to suspend them immediately and lodge a police complaint thereafter.

Any forceful act by the student on the directives of the senior students would be treated as ragging under the new law. The new law is expected to be implemented from the new academic session starting from July next.