No: 33 Dated: May, 15 1999

THE MAHARASHTRA PROHIBITION OF RAGGING ACT, 1999

ACT No. XXXIII OF 1999

    An Act to prohibit ragging in educational institutions in the State of Maharashtra.

    WHEREAS it is expedient to enact a special law to prohibit ragging in educational institutions in the State of Maharashtra;

It is hereby enacted in the Fiftieth Year of the Republic of India as follows :—

1. Short title and commencement:- (1) This Act may be called the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1999.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

2. Definitions:- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(a) “educational institution” means and includes a college, or other institution by whatever name called, carrying on the activity or imparting education therein (either exclusively or among other activities); and includes an orphanage or a boarding home or hostel or a tutorial institution or any other premises attached thereto ;

(b) “head of the educational institution” means the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Dean of Medical Faculty, Director of the Institution or the Principal, Headmaster or the person responsible for the management of the educational institution ;

(c) “ragging” means display of disorderly conduct, doing of any act which causes or is likely to cause physical or psychological harm or raise apprehension or fear or shame or embarrassment to a student in any educational institution and includes—

(i) teasing, abusing, threatening or playing practical jokes on, or causing hurt to, such student ; or

(ii) asking a student to do any act or perform something which such student will not, in the ordinary course, willingly, do.

3. Prohibition of ragging:- Ragging within or outside of any educational institution is prohibited

4. Penalty for ragging:- Whoever directly or indirectly commits, participates in, abets or propagates ragging within or outside any educational institution shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and shall also be liable to a fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees.

5. Dismissal of student:- Any student convicted of an offence under section 4 shall be dismissed from the educational institution and such student shall not be admitted in any other educational institution for a period of five years from the date of order of such dismissal.

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