Guidelines have been drawn up for anti-scratch protection, Kerala state HC informs

Image to illustrate | Photo credit: GIRI KVS

The Kerala government on Tuesday informed the Kerala High Court that Anti-Ragging and Student Welfare Guidelines have been framed to prevent and prohibit disorderly conduct, punish culprits and ensure a healthy atmosphere in universities. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice C. Jayachandran had earlier directed the state to issue directions based on the Kerala Prohibition of Understanding (Amendment) Bill pending its passage. The guidelines have been developed to prevent confusion and explain the legal rights and responsibilities of students and educational institutions. The guidelines also aim to create a clear mechanism for reporting complaints, to protect victims and witnesses in malpractice cases, to ensure free and fair investigations, to clarify the legal and disciplinary consequences of rape, and to achieve the “absolute well-being of students”.

The guidelines would apply to all educational institutions in Kerala and other premises to which students have access during their studies, such as hostels, other dwellings, means of transport and waiting rooms for transport. The petitioner Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) pointed out that the penalty has not been increased in the draft guidelines. KeLSA has also proposed some wording changes to clarify the areas covered in the guidelines. The court ordered the state to issue guidelines with the proposed change in wording. However, he stated that increasing the penalty would require a change in the governing law, which would be considered later.

The guidelines stated that any act of physical abuse and blasphemy through digital modes, body shaming, teasing, abuse or playing practical jokes to harm a student will be considered blasphemy. A person who commits, participates in, instigates or promotes ragging within or outside an educational institution would be punished under the Kerala Prohibition of Raging Act, 1998. A student convicted of such offenses would be dismissed from the educational institution and would not be admitted to any other institution for a period of three years from the date of dismissal.

The guidelines stated that every educational institution must have an anti-tampering committee, an anti-guessing team, a mentoring cell and a wellness clinic and counseling cell. Universities would also be tasked with setting up a monitoring cell to prevent vandalism. The guidelines also require that a statewide anti-tampering monitoring cell or commission be set up.

If the complaint is prima facie verified, it must be handed over to the police within 24 hours and the accused student must be suspended immediately. If a persistent complaint is found to be hidden or unreported, the guidelines allow action to be taken against the head of the institution. It also sought to set up anti-tampering cells at police stations.

Published – 06 Oct 2026 21:49 IST