It’s not every day you hear a High Court deliver such a powerful and unfiltered rebuke. But on July 11, 2025, the Delhi High Court did just that, looking squarely at the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) anti-ragging framework and declaring, “This system has utterly failed.” This isn't just about rules on paper; it's about a crisis that's claiming young lives and leaving countless others scarred. The court’s frustration is palpable, and it’s a sentiment that has been building for years as the numbers paint an increasingly grim picture.
Key Highlights
- ✓ The Delhi High Court called the UGC's anti-ragging system an "utter failure" amid rising student deaths.
- ✓ The UGC's helpline recorded 1,084 ragging complaints in 2024, the highest number in nine years.
- ✓ In 2022, 13,044 students died by suicide, a figure higher than farmers and agricultural labourers combined.
- ✓ Ragging-related deaths have more than doubled, jumping from an average of 7 per year before 2022 to 17 per year since.
- ✓ The court questioned the UGC for spending a meager ₹44 lakh annually to oversee the welfare of 35 million students.
A System on Trial: The Judiciary Loses its Patience
The recent hearing in the Delhi High Court was a turning point. A Bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela didn't mince words while addressing the UGC. "You have not been able to do anything. Except every other day, there is a news report of a student death," the Bench observed, cutting through the usual bureaucratic jargon. The court was hearing a petition filed by the Aman Satya Kachroo Trust (ASKT), an NGO that has been at the forefront of this fight since its founder's son, Aman, tragically lost his life to ragging in 2009.
What really drove the point home was the court’s shock at the funding—or lack thereof. "Spending ₹44 lakh yearly for overseeing the welfare of 35 million students across the country — how do you justify this? You have to open your coffers," the court demanded. This isn't an isolated incident of judicial frustration. Just months earlier, in March, the Supreme Court expressed similar concerns, noting that the existing anti-ragging regulations remained largely on paper, with institutions only performing "mere formalities" like collecting affidavits and putting up posters.
The Sobering Numbers Behind the Crisis
Let’s be honest, the statistics are gut-wrenching. According to the UGC's own data, the anti-ragging helpline received a staggering 1,240 complaints between January 2023 and April 2024. The count for 2024 alone has already hit 1,084, the highest it’s been in nine years. This isn't just a slight increase; it's a massive red flag that something is fundamentally broken. Medical and engineering colleges are hotspots, accounting for a shocking 40% of all cases.
The data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) paints an even darker picture. The 2022 report revealed that students accounted for 7.6% of all deaths by suicide in India. That's 13,044 students—a number that surpasses the combined toll among farmers and agricultural labourers. The state-wise breakdown is heartbreaking, with Maharashtra leading at 1,764 student suicides, followed by Tamil Nadu (1,416) and Madhya Pradesh (1,340). Even Delhi saw 385 student suicides in that year.
The mental health fallout is equally devastating. A 2024 National Medical Commission survey of 37,000 postgraduate students found that 31% had experienced suicidal thoughts, and a terrifying 4.4% had attempted suicide within the past year. Over a quarter of these PG students reported being ragged. This isn't just "harmless fun"; it's a systemic issue causing deep psychological trauma.
From Success to Failure: What Went Wrong?
Here’s the most frustrating part: it wasn't always this bad. Following the Supreme Court's mandate, the National Ragging Prevention Programme (NRPP) was launched in 2009. ASKT, the trust founded by Aman Kachroo's father, was instrumental in its design and management. It was a data-driven, proactive system with innovative features like a 24x7 helpline, mandatory online affidavits, and independent monitoring.
And it worked. Mr. Kachroo submitted to the court that from 2012 to 2022, under his Trust's management, ragging incidents plummeted. Confidential surveys across 5,000 colleges showed a reduction in ragging from 40% in 2009 to less than 5% in 2020. This was a massive success story. But then, things changed. In 2022, the UGC selected another agency to manage the program, and according to Mr. Kachroo, the system fell apart.
He told the court that the helpline now operates as a mere "referral call centre," with access to case files discontinued. The option for students to file anonymous complaints has been removed—a critical feature for scared students. Furthermore, the publication of annual confidential surveys and other public reports has stopped. "They are playing with the lives of the students," Mr. Kachroo stated, a sentiment that clearly resonated with the High Court.
Zero Tolerance on Paper, Total Neglect in Practice
On paper, India has a "zero tolerance" policy. The UGC regulations from 2009 are strict, and the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, has provisions to punish acts related to ragging, from criminal intimidation to abetment of suicide. Every college is supposed to have a mandatory anti-ragging committee, conduct surprise inspections, and raise awareness. The problem is, these measures are rarely enforced.
A 2023 audit by the Centre for Youth (C4Y) found that 60% of college anti-ragging committees weren’t even functional. It’s a box-ticking exercise. This culture of neglect is fueled by several factors. First, there's the guise of "tradition," where ragging is disguised as a bonding ritual, especially in professional colleges. This allows seniors to assert power under a veil of normalcy.
Then there’s the immense fear of retaliation. A 2020 study by SAVE (Society Against Violence in Education) found that only 8.6% of students who face ragging actually report it. They fear harassment, social isolation, or being branded as weak. Compounding this, many institutions actively bury complaints to protect their reputation, a problem highlighted by the Raghavan Committee years ago. The result? A system where "zero tolerance" is a hollow phrase, and victims are left with nowhere to turn.
Conclusion
The Delhi High Court's scathing assessment that the anti-ragging system has "utterly failed" is not just an opinion; it's a reflection of a grim reality backed by heartbreaking data. We've seen how a once-effective program was allowed to decay, leading to a resurgence of a menace that destroys lives and futures. With student suicides on the rise and ragging complaints hitting a near-decade high, the lip service from authorities is no longer acceptable.
The judiciary’s increasing impatience offers a glimmer of hope. The potential for a court-monitored intervention could be the jolt the system desperately needs. For the sake of millions of students entering campuses with dreams for their future, it's time for real enforcement, genuine awareness, and a cultural shift that finally makes "zero tolerance" a reality, not just a slogan on a faded poster.
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