As per the 2022 NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) data, a staggering 13,044 student suicides were reported, accounting for 7.6% of total suicides in India, exceeding the combined number of deaths among farmers and agricultural laborers. Moreover, the UGC anti-ragging helpline received 1,084 complaints in 2024 — the highest in the last nine years.
During a hearing on July 11, 2025, a Bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela lambasted the UGC for its ineffectiveness, stating,
“This system has utterly failed. Every other day, there is news of a student dying due to ragging. Spending only ₹44 lakh annually for monitoring the welfare of 3.5 crore students — how is this justified?”
The case was brought forward by the Aman Satya Kachroo Trust (ASKT), an NGO working against ragging and student harassment in colleges.
UGC and DU Anti-Ragging Measures Under Scrutiny
The High Court questioned the UGC’s failure to prevent campus ragging and called for a more transparent and accountable system. It also noted that Delhi University (DU) had announced new anti-ragging measures for the upcoming academic year, but the court expressed concerns over their effectiveness.
“Ragging may appear trivial, but if you’ve ever spoken to someone who dropped out or died by suicide due to it, you’d understand its devastating impact,” the bench remarked.
With growing pressure, the UGC may be required to overhaul its anti-ragging policy, increase funding, and enforce stricter implementation of rules. The Delhi High Court PIL could lead to sweeping reforms across Indian universities to ensure student safety and mental well-being on campuses.
Tags
- Delhi High Court ragging PIL
- UGC anti-ragging failure
- Delhi University ragging measures
- UGC ragging complaints 2025
- Aman Satya Kachroo Trust
- Ragging In Indian Colleges
- Delhi High Court UGC PIL
- UGC anti-ragging helpline
- student mental health higher education
- ragging laws India
- university campus safety
- UGC reforms 2025
Most Read
