Following the death of medical student Aman Kachroo as a result of ragging, the Supreme Court has upped its ante against the menace.

A spate of ragging cases in the last few weeks has made the court issue notices to the colleges in question.

On March 8, 2009, a promising life was snuffed out. 19-year-old Aman Kachroo, a student at the Dr Rajendra Prasad Medical College in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh was allegedly beaten to death by three seniors and an intern. The boy was ‘punished’ because he complained about being ragged.

Barely three days later, another case of ragging was reported from an engineering college in Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh.

A first year student of the college attempted suicide after she was forced to strip and dance by five seniors.

The Supreme Court has now taken cognisance of the two cases.

It has issued contempt notices to the principal and registrar of both the colleges, asking why action should not be taken against them

The court also asked the Medical Council of India to determine if there was any negligence on the part of doctors in providing treatment to Aman Kachroo.

The DGPs of Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have been asked to file affidavits on whether criminal cases have been registered

The families of the victims have welcomed the court's move.

Aman’s father, Rajendra Kachru said, “The message has gone out very clear that this will not be tolerated. Ragging, crime in the form of ragging will not be tolerated.”

The University Grants Commission meanwhile wants to implement new regulations by the first week of April, to check ragging.

UGC Chairman Sukhdeo Thorat said, “We have guidelines which have been put up on the website for the enforcement by the colleges and the educational institutions. But we also realise that it is necessary that we convert those guidelines into regulations so that they are legally enforceable.”

An earlier Supreme Court recommendation to make ragging a punishable offence under the IPC is still pending with the government.

Therefore, in the absence of a comprehensive law, it is now up to the universities to ensure that anti-ragging regulations are in place.