The court established that educational authorities must enforce anti-ragging regulations proactively to prevent student harm, holding administrators accountable for lapses in ensuring campus safety.

JUDGMENT :

D.K. SINGH, J.

1. Heard Mr P C Sasidharan and Ms Sneha M S learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioners; Mr P Sreekumar learned Senior Counsel assisted by Mr S Prasanth, learned Standing Counsel for the Chancellor of Universities; Mr Manu Govind learned Standing Counsel for Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University; Ms Nisha George learned Counsel of the 6^th respondent and Mr Premchand R Nair learned Senior Government Pleader.

Facts

2. The petitioner in W.P.(C) No.35376/2024, Dr M.K. Narayanan, was functioning as Dean of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU). The petitioner in W.P.(C) No.33291/2024 is the Assistant Warden of the Men’s Hostel of KVASU. Being the Dean of the Colleges, the petitioner, Dr M.K. Narayanan, was the Warden of the said Hostel. One student, Sidharthan J S, a second-year BVSc and AH course of the College, aged around 21 years as on the date of the incident, was found hanging in the bathroom of the dormitory of the Undergraduate Men’s Hostel in the College Campus on 18.02.2024.

2.1 The complaint and information received from some students at the College by the UGC Anti-ragging helpline was transmitted to the Dean of the college, with a copy to the Vice Chancellor. An anti-ragging squad of the College investigated the case, and its report confirmed that Sidharthan J S was subjected to brutal physical abuse and public trial by a section of students, which amounted to ragging.

3. The report of the anti-ragging squad dated 01.03.2024 and07.03.2024 confirmed the ragging of the deceased student, holding the Dean and the Assistant Warden responsible for administrative lapses and failure in observing the Rules and Regulations prohibiting ragging in Higher Education Institutions. Accordingly, the Vice-Chancellor called for an explanation from Dr M.K. Narayanan and Dr R. Kanthanathan, the petitioners in these two writ petitions, who were the Dean and the Assistant Warden, respectively, having immediate responsibility to ensure the right behaviour and maintain discipline of the hostel inmates.

4. A three-member Inquiry Committee was constituted by the Vice Chancellor of the University to inquire into the alleged administrative lapses on the part of the petitioners leading to the death of Sidharthan J S on 18.02.2024 at the UG Men’s hostel of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, Wayanad District, Kerala, a constituent College of the University. The said Inquiry Report is part of W.P.(C) No.33291/2024 as Ext.P9.

4.1 The notice issued to Dr M.K. Narayanan, Dean, directed him to furnish an explanation on the following points:

“1. Failure on knowing the reported ragging and the torture of Sidharthan J.S in Hostel room and Hostel premises.

2. Failure of keeping in place, in Hostel and its premises the needed precautions, to prevent such an unruly behaviour of some sections of students.

3. Failure or routine patrolling and inspection in Hostels by Assistant Warden and Warden

4. Failure of bringing the incident of death of student Sidharthan J.S to Police and Higher authorities in time.

5. Failure to report the assaulting of the Sidharthan J.S to the parents or the University Officials by the Dean or any other College officials.

6. Failure to give a convincing explanation to the parents and Higher authorities about the situations leading to death of the student Sidharthan J.S.

7. Failure of reporting by students & teachers about the incident of ragging through any of the phone numbers displayed in the mandatory anti-