Ragging in college — how to complain in India: National Anti-Ragging Helpline 1800-180-5522, UGC Anti-Ragging Regulations 2009, Anti-Ragging Committee and Squad, FIR within 24 hours, BNS sections, State anti-ragging laws, medical / technical colleges (2026)
Plain map for students and parents facing ragging in a college, university, hostel or coaching-linked hostel: what counts as ragging under the UGC Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009 (including the 2016 amendment on caste, gender, region and appearance-based abuse); the 24×7 National Anti-Ragging Helpline (1800-180-5522, helpline@antiragging.in) and the institution’s Anti-Ragging Committee and Squad; the head of institution’s duty to file an FIR within 24 hours where a crime is made out; the punishments institutions can impose; criminal sections under the BNS; State anti-ragging Acts; and the separate rules for medical (NMC) and technical (AICTE) colleges. Educational only — not legal advice; Adhiwakta does not file complaints or contact colleges.
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If you are in danger right now
Call 112 for police help. Call the National Anti-Ragging Helpline 1800-180-5522 (toll-free, 24×7) or email helpline@antiragging.in. If you or a friend are having thoughts of self-harm, call Tele-MANAS 14416 now. Move to a safe place — a friend’s room, the warden’s office, home — and tell a parent or trusted teacher. You do not need to ‘prove’ anything before asking for help.
What counts as ragging
The UGC Regulations, 2009 define ragging broadly: any act by a student or group that teases, treats or handles a fresher or other student with rudeness; causes annoyance, hardship, physical or psychological harm, fear or shame; forces a student to do something they would not do willingly; financial extortion or forced expenses; physical abuse, sexual abuse, homosexual assaults, stripping or forcing obscene acts; or abuse by email, post or public insult. The 2016 Third Amendment added physical or mental abuse (including bullying and exclusion) targeted at a student because of colour, race, religion, caste, ethnicity, gender (including transgender), sexual orientation, appearance, nationality, regional origin, linguistic identity, place of birth, residence or economic background. It applies on campus, in hostels, in transport, and outside campus when linked to the institution.
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Where to complain — the routes
(1) The National Anti-Ragging Helpline: a distress complaint is relayed to the head of the institution, the hostel warden, the affiliating university’s nodal officer, district authorities and, if needed, the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, and the case is tracked on antiragging.in. (2) Inside the institution: every institution covered must have an Anti-Ragging Committee, an Anti-Ragging Squad that makes surprise checks and enquires into incidents, and a mentoring cell; their phone numbers must be displayed. Give a short written complaint with dates, places, names or descriptions, and keep a copy with acknowledgement. (3) The police: for a cognizable offence you can go straight to the police — you do not need the college’s permission.
The institution’s duty — FIR within 24 hours
Under clause 7 of the UGC Regulations, on receiving information about ragging (or the Squad’s recommendation), the head of the institution must immediately decide whether a criminal case is made out and, if so, file an FIR with the police within 24 hours. The institution must also inform the district anti-ragging committee and the affiliating university’s nodal officer. If an institution fails to act, it can itself face action by UGC (for example withdrawal of grants or recognition-related steps) and the authorities who ignore complaints can face disciplinary action.
Punishments the institution can impose
Depending on the seriousness, the Anti-Ragging Committee can order suspension from classes, withholding of scholarships or benefits, debarring from tests and exams, withholding results, suspension or expulsion from the hostel, cancellation of admission, rustication for one to four semesters, or expulsion with a bar on admission elsewhere for a period. Where the persons responsible cannot be identified, collective punishment can be imposed. These are separate from any criminal case.
Criminal law that can apply
There is no single central ‘ragging’ offence, but acts of ragging are punished under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), for example: hurt and grievous hurt (Sections 115, 117; old IPC 323, 325), wrongful restraint and confinement (Sections 126, 127; old 341, 342), criminal intimidation (Section 351; old 506), extortion (Section 308; old 384), sexual harassment, assault or insulting the modesty of a woman (Sections 74, 75, 79; old 354, 354A, 509) and abetment of suicide (Section 108; old 306). Caste-based abuse of an SC/ST student can also attract the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and circulating videos or images can attract the IT Act. Several States have their own anti-ragging laws — for example Tamil Nadu (1997), Andhra Pradesh (1997), Kerala (1998) and Maharashtra (1999) — with their own penalties and rules on dismissal of students; check your State’s Act.
Medical, technical and other colleges
The UGC Regulations apply to universities and institutions recognised by or affiliated to them. Medical colleges are also bound by the National Medical Commission’s anti-ragging regulations (2021) and NMC has its own complaint channels; AICTE-approved technical institutions follow AICTE’s 2009 anti-ragging regulations. Students and parents give an online anti-ragging undertaking on antiragging.in at admission — keep the registration number. For school-level bullying, the school’s own policy, the board’s guidelines and the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights may be relevant, and if the student is under 18 and there is sexual abuse, POCSO applies.
Evidence and record-keeping
Write down what happened, with dates, times, places, names or descriptions and witnesses. Save chats, call logs, photos of injuries, medical / MLC papers and payment proofs if money was extorted — without editing. Keep copies of every complaint, email and helpline reference number. If the college or police do not act, a written complaint to the higher authority (Vice-Chancellor / university nodal officer, District Magistrate, Superintendent of Police, UGC) and an RTI application for the action-taken record are the usual next steps.
If you are accused
Cooperate with the committee’s enquiry, give your version in writing, and ask for a copy of the complaint and the decision. Do not contact or pressure the complainant. Disciplinary decisions can be challenged within the institution and, where the law allows, before the courts; a criminal case follows the normal BNSS process including bail.
What this guide is not
It does not decide whether an incident is ragging, what punishment will follow, or the result of any FIR. Regulations and helpline details can change — check antiragging.in and UGC / NMC / AICTE notices.
How Adhiwakta can help
We do not file complaints or FIRs, contact colleges, helplines or police, or represent students. Adhiwakta is a facilitation platform, not a law firm. We do not file cases, appear before any authority, or promise any result. Use Ask Adhiwakta to describe your situation for general guidance from an independent advocate, or start with the AI helper to organise your facts and papers. Educational only — not formal legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the national anti-ragging helpline number?
- 1800-180-5522 (toll-free, 24×7), email helpline@antiragging.in, website antiragging.in. In an emergency call 112; for thoughts of self-harm call Tele-MANAS 14416.
- Does the college have to file an FIR for ragging?
- Yes, where a criminal case is made out. Clause 7 of the UGC Anti-Ragging Regulations, 2009 requires the head of the institution to file an FIR within 24 hours of receiving the information or the Anti-Ragging Squad’s recommendation. A student or parent can also go to the police directly.
- What punishment can a college give for ragging?
- Suspension from classes, withholding scholarships or results, debarring from exams, hostel expulsion, cancellation of admission, rustication for one to four semesters, or expulsion — plus any criminal case.
- Is caste or regional bullying counted as ragging?
- Yes. The 2016 amendment to the UGC Regulations covers physical or mental abuse, bullying and exclusion targeted on grounds such as caste, religion, gender, sexual orientation, appearance, regional origin, language or economic background.
- Which law applies in medical colleges?
- Medical colleges follow the National Medical Commission’s anti-ragging regulations (2021) in addition to the general law; AICTE-approved technical institutions follow AICTE’s regulations. Some States also have their own anti-ragging Acts.
- Does Adhiwakta complain to the college for me?
- No. Adhiwakta does not file complaints or FIRs or contact colleges, helplines or police. Use Ask Adhiwakta or the AI helper for general educational guidance only.
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