Ragging: Defiling the cornerstones of free education

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices A.L. Shiran Gooneratne, K. Priyantha Fernando and Sobhitha Rajakaruna, directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) and other relevant authorities last Wednesday, to strictly enforce the guidelines formulated to combat ragging in State universities.

- BY RANDIMA ATTYGALLE

The court also instructed the Minister of Education and Higher Education to provide the necessary financial and technical support and facilities for the implementation of the said guidelines.

In the event of 'systematic failures in regulatory mechanisms' to curb ragging, the court ordered effective enforcement of all existing laws and institutional policies to curb ragging which has led to a good number of students abandoning their university education, leaving several more disabled and in extreme cases, committing suicide.

The ruling, which is an eye opener for both watchdogs of the higher education as well as students who nurture a ragging culture, was delivered while considering a fundamental rights petition filed by Pasindu Hirushan de Silva, who suffered severe head and chest trauma after being stuck by a rolling backhoe tyre during a social event organised by the senior students to mark the conclusion of the 'ragging period' for first-year students at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in March 2020.

Following the incident, Pasindu was immediately rushed to Colombo South Teaching Hospital and, due to the gravity of his injuries, he was later transferred to the National Hospital, Colombo. He remained in intensive care for over three months, undergoing multiple surgeries to address haemorrage and fractures. His recovery required extensive physiotherapy, including chest therapy, limb rehabilitation, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. As mentioned in the factual background of the judgment, despite these medical interventions, the extent of his long-term recovery remains uncertain, raising concerns about his ability to resume a normal life.