SC refuses to entertain plea seeking law to curb bullying, ragging in schools

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a plea seeking a central law and uniform guidelines to deal with bullying and ragging in schools and pre-university educational institutions across the country.

The court said it had already delivered a judgment on the issues raised in the plea and that a fresh petition for implementation of those directions could not be entertained. It, however, allowed the petitioner’s counsel to make a representation to the authorities concerned.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the order on the plea filed by Yadavi Aditya Rasiwasiya. The petition 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.

The plea said, "Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus whereby directing Respondent Nos 1 and 2 (Central ministries) herein to frame and implement an appropriate central legislation vis-a-vis the menace of bullying/ragging in schools/pre-university educational institutions."

It also sought directions for framing supplementary guidelines to the proposed central law, to be mandatorily implemented by schools and pre-university institutions so that complaints related to bullying and ragging are effectively considered and disposed of.