With the new academic session about to begin, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all universities to take steps against ragging such as specifying the number of cases in the previous sessions and the punishments awarded in the brochures and prospectus.

In a communication to the Registrars of all universities, the UGC has also given the direction that the higher educational institutions should put up hoardings, billboards and banners in prominent places within the campus asking students to prevent and not to indulge in ragging.

"The committee set up by the Supreme Court to monitor the measures being taken to prevent ragging has now decided that along with the number of cases of ragging in the previous academic session, the punishments awarded to those found guilty should also be mentioned in the brochures/prospectus of the higher educational institutions," it said.

The universities have been asked to mention the names and telephone numbers of the officials to be contacted in cases of ragging on the hoardings, billboards and banners to be put up.

The UGC said in the notice that the directions follow from the step following the Supreme Court expressing concern over the cases of ragging occurring in the universities. Earlier, the Raghavan Committee, set up as per the directions of the apex court, had recommended that ragging be included as a special section in the IPC.

The UGC has already issued directions to the universities in this regard. The UGC notice also asked the institutions to undertake any other form of campaign to prevent ragging.