In accordance with the Dental Council of India (DCI) Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Dental Colleges, 2009, Dental Council of India has issued a notification to dental institutions across the country. This notice was issued on 9th October, 2023.
The notice reminds the institutions of their responsibility to prevent any form of ragging within their premises. These regulations emphasize the critical role of institutions, particularly the Head of the institution, in preventing and addressing ragging incidents.
Key Highlights of the Notice are as follows:
- Institutional Responsibility: The DCI underscores the importance of dental institutions in ensuring a ragging-free environment. It is the duty of the Head of the institution and the management to take prompt and appropriate action against individuals whose negligence allows ragging to occur. Furthermore, the authority responsible for appointing the Head must also act promptly if ragging incidents take place.
- Awareness Campaigns: All dental institutions are required to issue advertisements against ragging through various means, including signboards, pamphlets, and booklets distributed to students. These materials must provide information on what constitutes ragging, the punishments and penalties associated with it, and contact details for the Anti Ragging Squad and Committee.
- Counsellors: Institutions should designate faculty members as “Counsellors” to guide and counsel both fresher and senior students. These individuals will regularly address students’ day-to-day concerns and raise awareness about their role in preventing ragging.
- Undertaking from Students and Parents: Institutions are requested to obtain and file an undertaking against ragging from all students and their parents or guardians. This undertaking can be submitted online through the designated portal.
- Mandatory Reporting: As per the regulations, every institution must upload its annual reports on the DCI’s Anti Ragging online portal by October 31st each year. Failure to comply may lead to penalties, including derecognition, reduced admission capacity, or a halt in new admissions.
- Upholding Zero Tolerance: The DCI maintains a zero-tolerance stance against any form of ragging within dental colleges and ensures strict enforcement of these regulations.
All dental institutions are urged to comply with the Anti-Ragging Regulations for the academic session 2023-2024. Institutions must upload the requisite information on the online portal of DCI by the specified deadline of October 31, 2023, and also submit their compliance on the UGC portal.
Failure to meet these obligations could result in adverse actions taken against the defaulting institution, as determined by the Monitoring Committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India. The names of such institutions will also be made public on the DCI website.
