Ragging is strictly prohibited at Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce. Any student found indulging in ragging in any form, directly or indirectly, actively or passively, or being a part of conspiracy to promote ragging, within or outside the campus, would face strict disciplinary action by the College, and will be liable to be punished as per the UGC Regulations on curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions, 2009 (U/S 26(1) (g) of the UGC Act, 1956) and The Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1999, as well as under the provisions of any other penal law for the time being in force and shall also be liable to rusticate from the College. Ragging in all its forms shall be totally banned in the entire College premises, including its departments, constituent units including academic, residential, sports, canteen etc., whether located within the campus or outside and in all means of transportation of students whether public or private. Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce is an educational institute and is committed to maintaining a learning environment free of discrimination, exploitation and harassment. To achieve these objectives, the Anti-Ragging Cell has been constituted by the College comprising of Anti-Ragging Committee and the Anti-Ragging squad.

‘Ragging’ constitutes any of the following acts-

• Any conduct whether by words spoken or written or by an act which has the effect of teasing, treating or handling with rudeness any other student
• Indulging in rowdy or undisciplined activities which causes or is likely to cause annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or to raise fear or apprehension thereof in a fresher / junior student or any other student
• Asking any student to do any such act which the student will not in the ordinary course do and which has the effect of causing or generating a sense of shame or embarrassment so as to adversely affect the physique of a fresher / junior student or any other student.

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Punishable Ragging Offences:

Abetment to ragging
Criminal conspiracy to rag
Unlawful assembly and rioting while ragging
Public nuisance created during ragging
Violation of decency and morals through ragging
Injury to body, causing hurt or grievous hurt
Use of criminal force
Assault as well as sexual offences or unnatural offences
Attempt to commit any or all of the above mentioned offences against the victim(S)
Wrongful restraint
Wrongful confinement
Extortion
Criminal trespass
Offences against property
Criminal intimidation
Physical or psychological humiliation
All other offences following from the definition of ‘Ragging.’

The Anti-Ragging Committee may, depending upon the nature and gravity of the offence established, impart to those found guilty of ragging, one or more of the following punishments-

• Suspension from attending classes and academic privileges
• Withholding / withdrawing scholarship / fellowship and other benefits
• Debarring from appearing in any test / examination or other evaluation process
• With-holding results
• Debarring from representing the institution in any regional, national or international meet, tournament, youth festival etc.
• Suspension / expulsion from the hostel
• Cancellation of admission
• Rustication from the institution for a period ranging from 1 – 4 semesters
• Expulsion from the institution and consequent debarring from admission to any other institution for a specified period
• The committee further reserves the right to take any other disciplinary action in appropriate circumstances as may be deemed fit in the given situation
• Fine ranging between Rs. 25,000/- to Rs. 1,00,000/-
• Collective punishment – when the person committing or abetting the crime of ragging are not identified, the institution shall resort to collective punishment
• The committee further reserves the right to take any other disciplinary action in appropriate circumstances as may be deemed fit in the given situation.

• Dr. H. M. Soman Chair Person

• Dr. S. R. Parchure Senior Faculty Member

• Mrs. Jasmina Kumar Senior Faculty Member

• Mr. Anil Adagale Senior Faculty Member

• Mrs. Sheena Mathews Senior Faculty Member

• Mrs. Pallavi Walimbe Administrative Staff

• Student Representative

• Student Representative

• Mr. Anil Adagale Senior Faculty Member

• Mr. Umesh Kulkarni Senior Faculty Member

• Mrs. Tessy Thadathil Senior Faculty Member

• Mr. Anirudhha Sharma Faculty Member

Objective of the Cell

Sexual Harassment is a form of discrimination, exploitation and harassment prohibited by the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, 1995. In keeping with the Supreme Court guidelines of 1997, the Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, has established a CELL FOR PREVENTION AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT. Sexual harassment is strictly prohibited by the College and anyone who is found indulging in such acts would face strict disciplinary action by the College and will be liable to be punished as per the provisions of the above said laws as well as under the provisions of any other penal law for the time being in force. Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce is an educational institute and is committed to maintaining a learning environment free of discrimination, exploitation and harassment.

The College therefore adopts the policy of condemning all acts which would constitute sexual harassment related to work, education, training or employment. The Cell shall be a complaint center for the members of the faculty, staff and students of the College.

2) Meaning of Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment is any unwelcome words or actions of sexual nature such as-

• Physical contacts and advances
• Demand or request for sexual favours
• Sexually coloured remarks
• Display of pornography
• Any other unwelcomed physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature

3) General guidelines for the Cell

The Cell would undertake following measures-

• To promote awareness about sexual harassment through educational initiatives that encourages a safe campus environment
• Dissemination of information about the Cell through distribution of printed material, hand-outs etc.
• Conducting workshops for women students and staff about awareness of Sexual Harassment
• To provide confidential Counseling Services for the victim of sexual harassment. Confidential counseling is an important service as it provides a safe space to speak about the incident and how it has affected victim.
• To provide supportive, neutral and confidential environment for members of the campus community who may have been sexually harassed
• To advise the complainant about the method of lodging complaint
• To accept a written and signed complaint from the complainant
• To give a fair hearing to the complainant and the respondent
• To take an appropriate disciplinary action against the respondent
• To submit a written report to the appropriate higher authority
• If the complaint falls outside the purview of the Cell, to advise the complainant accordingly
• Since such cases are sensitive issues and are rarely reported, total confidentiality to be maintained during the proceedings of such cases
• To follow the rules and procedures as laid down in the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, 1995, guidelines of the Supreme Court, and the resolutions passed by the Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, the Governing Body and the Savitribai Phule Pune University from time to time
• The cell further reserves the right to take any other disciplinary action in appropriate circumstances as may be deemed fit in the given situation

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The Prevention of Sexual Harassment Cell for the Academic Year 2019-20.

• Dr. Sunayini Parchure Chair Person
• Mrs. Swati Chiney Senior Faculty Member
• Dr. Alpana Vaidya Senior Faculty Member
• Mrs. Shubhada Tamhankar Senior Faculty Member
• Mrs. Suchitra Date Counselor and Social Worker
• Student Representative
• Student Representative

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GRIEVANCE REDRESSAL CELL

There is also a Grievance Redressal Cell of the College for dealing with any type of grievance. It consist of,

• Dr. H.M. Soman Chair Person
• Mr. Anil Adagale Senior Faculty Member
• Mrs. Swati Chiney Senior Faculty Member
• Mrs. Pallavi Walimbe Senior Administrative Staff

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PREVENTION OF CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION

We, at Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, do not make or support any kind of Caste Based Discrimination in our premises. Any action or activity which promotes or supports such discrimination is strictly prohibited in the college. The college has a ‘Committee for prevention of caste based discrimination’ and a complaint register is available in the college office.

College Helpline Number: 9011059219