Supreme Court declines PIL seeking central law on school ragging

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to entertain a public interest litigation seeking a central law and uniform guidelines to address bullying and ragging in schools and pre-university educational institutions across the country.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana observed that the top court has already delivered a judgment on the issues raised in the petition. It said a fresh petition cannot be entertained for the implementation of those directives.

The Bench, however, permitted the counsel for petitioner Yadavi Aditya Rasiwasiya to submit a representation to the authorities concerned.

The plea had named the Centre, all States and Union Territories, the Central Board of Secondary Education and the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations as parties.

It sought a writ of mandamus directing the Central ministries to frame and implement appropriate central legislation to tackle bullying and ragging in schools and pre-university institutions. The petition also asked for supplementary guidelines to the proposed legislation, to be mandatorily implemented by such institutions so that complaints are effectively considered and disposed of.

In addition, the petitioner sought the compulsory introduction of a subject dealing with the evils of bullying and ragging in the curriculum, and a direction that it form part of the curriculum followed by all Central and State education boards.