MATTER TAKEN UP AS SUOMOTO ON THE NEWS ITEM PUBLISHED IN DECCAN Vs. PRINCIPAL MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT COLLEGE MAREDPALLY SECUNDERABAD

JUDGEMENT

(1.) As per Newspaper report which appeared in Deccan Chronicle dated 3-12-1996, one Ms. Padmaja, Aged 24 years, student of Post Graduate Master of Computer Applications Course at the Manpower Development College, Marredpally, Secunderabad committed suicide in her house as she was unable to bear the 'ragging' in the college. The deceased joined the college during the last week of November, 1996. She was subjected to ragging by her seniors in the college, who asked her to sing or dance in front of others. She was pinched and pushed by the students when she refused to yield to their demand. She complained to the Lecturers, but the same was of no avail and no steps were taken to protect her from ragging, and she became too emotional and suddenly took the extreme step of hanging herself The members of her family hesitated to lodge a complaint with the police. A neighbour reported the matter to the police and the body was eventually moved to hospital for post-mortem examination.

(2.) This matter was taken up as Public Interest Litigation and was registered as Writ Petition No.26132/1996, and the same was heard by a Division Bench of this High Court. Respondent 6 and 7 being the Medical and Health Secretariat of the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the District Superintendent of Police, Kurnool respectively were directed by an interim order passed on 27-12-1996 to make immediate arrangements for round the clock vigilance and protection of the victims (both men and women) of offending behaviour of B. Navinkumar and others, to ensure that no male student or teacher was permitted into or around ladies cloak room or in the women's hostel, except such persons who may be permitted by the Warden and only at such places where they could meet any girl student of the hostel in the presence of Warden or any other Officer appointed for that purposes by the Principal of the College. The learned advocate Mr. M. V.S. Suresh Kumar, consented to take up the case as Amicus Curiae on behalf of the petitioner.

(3.) The Director of Manpower Development College, West Marredpally, Secunderabad in his counter affidavit dated 23-12-1996 refuted the Newspaper report in respect of the death of Ms. Padmaja. He denied any ragging at all in the college. According to him, on 29-11-1996, which was a Friday, only one introductory interaction took place in the college for about half an hour between the seniors and freshers, and that Padmaja did not attend the college on 29-11-1996. This was no ragging, according to him. He further states that the victim did not die due to ragging. He went to the extent of staling on oath that what he learnt was that the parents in order to protect their honour in society, indulged into concealing the real reasons of her death and gave a wrong version.