Odisha Higher Education Department directed all higher educational institutions (HEIs) to strengthen anti-ragging mechanisms and enhance safeguards for students. This development comes amid following recommendations issued by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and recent observations of the Supreme Court.

The directive was issued after the Department received a communication from the NHRC regarding recommendations emerging from the Open House Discussion on “Re-examining Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions: Creating Safer Campuses through Awareness, Accountability, and Action”, held on August 25, 2025.

The Commission highlighted the need for stronger institutional measures to prevent ragging and ensure the protection of students’ mental health and well-being, particularly in the light of the Supreme Court judgment dated July 25, 2025, in Sukdeb Saha vs State of Andhra Pradesh.

Anti-Ragging Bodies To Be Reconstituted

Institutions have been instructed to ensure that Anti-Ragging Committees, Anti-Ragging Squads and Monitoring Cells to be duly constituted or reconstituted in accordance with existing guidelines.

The order states that Anti-Ragging Squads must maintain round-the-clock vigilance, particularly in hostels and other vulnerable areas of campuses. Institutions have also been directed to maintain proper duty rosters and conduct frequent as well as surprise inspections, with records of such inspections preserved for review.

The Department also directed institutions to ensure adequate representation of SC/ST communities in Anti-Ragging Committees and related bodies. Compliance with this requirement must be certified by the head of the institution.

An internal independent monitoring mechanism is also to be established in every institution to periodically review anti-ragging measures and submit reports to the Department.

Three-Tier Complaint Redressal System

All ragging-related complaints are to be examined through a three-tier mechanism comprising an Institutional Cell, a Monitoring Agency and a District-Level Committee wherever required.

The guidelines further state that closure of complaints may involve obtaining feedback or satisfaction from the victim, wherever feasible, before confirming resolution.

Focus On Awareness And Mental Health

Institutions have also been directed to organise awareness programmes, orientation sessions for freshers and sensitisation campaigns on anti-ragging measures.

Adequate counselling facilities and mental health support systems are to be made available for students.

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The Department reiterated that all higher educational institutions must strictly comply with the University Grants Commission (UGC) Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009, along with all subsequent guidelines issued from time to time.