A judge from the Orissa High Court quashed an FIR filed against four senior students from a private law university who were accused of ragging a first-year student.
The court ruled that the four students would avoid prosecution on the condition that they volunteer at an orphanage for one week, during which they must teach or conduct workshops for the children there.
While considering the petition submitted by the four students, Justice Sibo Sankar Mishra stated that their behaviour at such an early stage in their legal careers was highly objectionable. He remarked, “Therefore while quashing the criminal case against the petitioners, this court finds it appropriate to direct them to volunteer at an orphanage of their choice for a week, where they will engage in teaching or conducting workshops for the children.”
The judge specified that the students should select the orphanage and inform its head about the court’s order. After completing the week of service, they are required to obtain a certificate from the head of the orphanage and submit it to the court within four weeks.
“I hope that this experience will steer the impressionable youth before me in a positive direction,” Justice Mishra observed.
The case had been registered against the four students at the Bharatpur police station after the victim’s father filed a complaint alleging that his son had been subjected to ragging and threats. The investigation was still ongoing at the time of the ruling.
Justice Mishra issued this judgment in light of a settlement reached between the victim’s father and the parents of the accused students. All four accused participated in court, declaring in an affidavit that the incident arose from a misunderstanding and sudden provocation. They expressed regret for their behaviour and apologized to the victim’s father.
