Ragging at Medical College may cost its recognition: New Draft NMC guidelines

As described in the 'Draft Guidelines, Rules & Regulations for Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging', Ragging is "Any disorderly conduct whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness any other student, indulging in rowdy or undisciplined activities which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in a fresher or a junior student or asking the students to do any act or perform something which such student will not in the ordinary course and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of a fresher or a junior student."

With an aim towards ending this ragging menace that continues to plague the Indian medical education sector, the apex medical regulator has issued guidelines on the prohibition of ragging matters previously as well but this is one of the most explicit documents.

According to the regulations, the duties and responsibilities of NMC include monitoring of institutions through the university about implementation and compliance of rules and regulations and reviewing compliance during recognition Inspections/ Assessments by the Medical Assessment and Rating Board.

Every institution is required to submit an annual compliance report, including all reports of ragging and regulation. Additionally, all incidents of Ragging and reports thereof including the outcome of Appeals and directions from Courts, if any, shall be provided to the National Medical Commission by the Institution and the University

Failure to adhere to regulations or report incidents could lead to the derecognition of the institute or reduction in the institution's admission capacity or stopping further admission altogether.

Below is the detailed course of action entitled to the taken by the apex medical regulator in case of failure noted from the medical institutions:

If an institution fails to comply with these Regulations and, curb ragging, the National Medical Commission shall take appropriate action as deemed fit which includes but is not limited to the following:
(a) Initiate de-recognition process against the institution
(b) Reduce the admission capacity of the institution to the extent to which the Commission deems fit
(c) Stop further admission in the institution till further orders
(d) Stop renewal of permission for undergraduate, Postgraduate and Super speciality Medical Courses
(e) Post the information regarding penalties so imposed on , the concerned institution on the website of the National Medical Commission for information of all concerned
(f) Any other exemplary measure as may be necessary

Additionally, the following actions as deemed fit may be taken:

a. Impose an exemplary fine of Rs. 1 lakh for each incident of ragging payable by erring medical college/institution to such authority as may be designated by the appropriate Government, as the case may be
b. Declare the erring Medical College/Institution/University as not having the minimum academic standards and warning the potential candidates for admission at such institution through public notice and posing on the NMC website
c. Declare the erring Medical College/Institution/University to be ineligible for preferring any application u/s 10A of the NMC Act no. 30 of 2019 for a minimum period of one year, extendable by such quantum by the Council as would be commensurate with the wrong

These guidelines significantly outline the actions that may constitute ragging, measures to be taken by medical institutions to prohibit ragging as well as encouraging healthy interaction between freshers and seniors.

The draft regulations further amplify the importance of sensitization of institutional employees and staff towards Ragging and outline the constitution of an anti-ragging committee to monitor such instances taking place in the colleges, duties of hostels, wardens, committee, universities and the apex medical regulator itself. Moreover, the guidelines also specify the disciplinary action that would be taken against the guilty parties.

To read the full NMC's 'Draft Guidelines, Rules & Regulations for Prevention and Prohibition of Ragging, click here