The Kerala government has formed a high-level committee to draft the Sidharthan Anti-Ragging and Student Welfare Act, a legislation aimed at strengthening anti-ragging measures in educational institutions across the state, in memory of J.S. Sidharthan. The committee will be chaired by Achuthsankar S.
Nair, vice-chairperson of the Kerala State Higher Education Council. The panel, constituted by the Home Department, has been tasked with consolidating expert opinions and drafting comprehensive legislative proposals to establish emergency digital reporting, institutionalize mental health support, and enforce strict safety guidelines across school and college campuses. Minhaj Alam, Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department, will serve as the convenor of the committee.
The other members of the panel include senior officials from various departments, including Higher Education, Health and Family Welfare, Law, and Social Justice. Experts from the fields of education, mental health, and law have also been included in the committee. These include Shijida Shain, Assistant Professor at the University College of Engineering, Karyavattom; Kiran P.S., State Nodal Officer, State Mental Health Program; Ranjith Balan, Chief Executive Officer, Doubtbox Edutainment Pvt. Ltd.; and legal expert Y.
Vinod Kumar. Additionally, M.J. Yadukrishnan, a public representative from Kollam, has also been included in the committee.
The legislative initiative was announced in the revised State Budget and comes against the backdrop of a writ petition filed by the Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) expressing severe concern over the escalating cruelty of ragging incidents in educational institutions. The Kerala High Court had directed the State government to constitute a multi-disciplinary working group to evaluate necessary amendments and draft actionable rules, observing that the failure to frame the necessary rules had severely weakened law enforcement capabilities despite the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act having been enacted 27 years ago. The proposed legislation is part of the state’s efforts to strengthen anti-ragging measures and provide support to students.
The committee’s recommendations are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the legislation and ensuring the safety and well-being of students in the state.
