Student Help

The College has a coherent and an effective anti-ragging policy in place which is based on the UGC Regulation on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Colleges, 2009 [hereinafter referred to as the UGC Regulations]. The UGC Regulations have been framed in view of the directions issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to prevent and prohibit ragging in all Indian Educational Colleges. The said UGC Regulations shall apply mutatis mutandis to the College and the students are requested kindly to follow them.

Ragging constitutes one or more of the following acts.

• any conduct by any student or students whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness any student;
• indulging in rowdy or undisciplined activities by any student or students which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship, physical or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in any other student;
• asking any student to do any act which such student will not in the ordinary course do and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame, or torment or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique or psyche of such a student;
• any act by a senior student that prevents, disrupts or disturbs the regular academic activity of any student;
• exploiting the services of a student for completing the academic tasks assigned to an individual or a group of students;
• any act of financial extortion or forceful expenditure burden put on a student by other students;
• any act of physical abuse including all variants of it: sexual abuse, stripping, forcing obscene and lewd acts, gestures, causing bodily harm or any other danger to health or person;
• any act or abuse by spoken words, emails, post, public insults which would also include deriving perverted pleasure, vicarious or sadistic thrill from actively or passively participating in the discomfiture to any other student;
• any act that affects the mental health and self-confidence of any other student with or without an intent to derive a sadistic pleasure or showing off power, authority or superiority by a student over any other student.

Anti-Ragging Committee

The Anti-Ragging Committee constituting of faculty members and headed by the Principal shall examine all complaints of anti-ragging and come out with recommendation based on the nature of the incident. The committee shall keep a vigil on ragging incidents taking place in the community and undertake patrolling functions. Students may note that the committee is active and alert at all times and are empowered to inspect places of potential ragging, and also make surprise raids in hostels and other hotspots in the College.

Students in distress owing to ragging related incidents can feel free to contact the Anti-Ragging committee.

Students may also visit:

UGC 24×7 Anti-Ragging Helpline

www.antiragging.in

Punishments

A student found guilty will attract one or more of the following punishments depending on the facts and circumstances of each incident of ragging and nature and gravity of the incident of ragging, as imposed by the Anti-Ragging Committee:

• Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges.
• Debarring from appearing in any test/ examination or other evaluation process.
• Withholding results.
• Debarring from undertaking any collaborative work.
• Suspension/ expulsion from the hostels and mess.
• Cancellation of admission.
• Expulsion from the college and consequent debarring from admission to any other college for a specified period.
• In cases where the persons committing or abetting the act of ragging are not identified, the College shall resort to collective punishment.
• If need be, in view of the intensity of the act of ragging committed, a First Information Report (FIR) shall be filed by the College with the local police authorities.

The UGC’s Policy on Prevention and Prohibition of sexual harassment at Workplace 2016 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the students of the College. Students should note that sexual misconduct or harassment encompasses a range of conduct, including but not limited to sexual assault, unwanted touching or persistent unwelcome comments, e-mails, or pictures of an insulting or degrading sexual nature, which may constitute harassment, which shall depend of the circumstances of each case.

The College has a Grievance Redressal Cell constituting of faculty members and administrative staff members, and headed by the Principal to address grievances of students as well as staff members. A student having any grievance may apply in writing to the Principal/ Grievance Redressal Cell for an appropriate redressal.

Any student of the College aggrieved by any acts of sexual harassment, misconduct or ragging as defined and summarized hereinabove can approach the Principal/ Grievance Redressal Cell at the College. Further, any student who is aware of any violations may report the same to the Cell. The Cell shall take cognizance of the grievance and inform the concerned Committee formed to enforce the respective Code.

If a delinquent student is aggrieved by the imposition of any of the aforementioned punishments, he/she may appeal to the Principal/ Grievance Redressal Cell. They may decide on one of the following.

• accept the recommendation of the concerned Committee and impose the punishment as suggested by the Committee, or
• modify and impose any of the punishments as stipulated in the respective Code which is commensurate with the gravity of the proved misconduct, or
• refer the case back to the Committee for reconsideration.

The Principal’s decision is final and binding in all the cases.

The College has formed a CWDC, as per UGC guidelines and instructions from the Gujarat University, to prevent and deter the commission of any act of harassment, including sexual harassment, and to provide the procedure for resolution, settlement, or prosecution of acts of sexual harassment by taking all required steps. CWDC ensures protection of rights and privileges of girl students and female faculty members, and acts as a grievance redressal cell for female students and staff members. It facilitates empowerment and upliftment of girl students by conducting workshops and lectures to enhance their latent skills and increase their knowledge along with awareness of their rights. It also encourages gender sensitization and equality among students.

The College has a functional Personal Counseling Cell where the students can feel free to contact designated counselors to share their personal problems and to its solution. The Cell supports students in various problematic situations including but not restricted to stress, confusion, conflicts, worry, anxiety, depression, grief, etc. Personal counseling is also helpful for a variety of reasons like coping with major life challenges, dealing with childhood trauma, self-improvement and reaching a greater self-understanding.

As per the State Government guidelines and instructions, the College runs its Placement Cell. The Cell provides career counselling and placement assistance to the students graduating from the College. It acts as a liaison between the industry and the academia. It conducts workshops to sharpen the skills of the students and prepare them for the outside world.

H L attempts to offer a varied range of add on courses to the students to prepare them for the professional world after graduation by updating them with the latest developments and by developing skills which make them industry-ready. Moreover, coaching is provided to students to enable them to clear competitive examinations for different government jobs. All such courses and training is provided to the students on campus, before or after college hours and on weekends.

A book bank was started in the pre-independence era by the then college students from their personal funds. To commemorate the Indian National Army, it was named INA Library. This book bank provides the complete set of reference books at a token rent to students from humble background for the entire semester.

The college has taken an Accidental Death Group Insurance policy for all students studying in the college. In case of an untoward incident resulting in the death of any student, the college initiates the procedure to enable the deceased student’s family get the insured amount of Rupees One Lac.