Nod given for cabinet meet to finalise anti-ragging bill, EC tells Kerala HC

Kochi: Election Commission of India (EC) has informed high court that it has granted model code of conduct (MCC) clearance to the state govt to convene a cabinet meeting for the finalisation of the draft Kerala Prohibition of Ragging (Amendment) Bill.Noting the submission, the bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice C Jayachandran observed that, in light of the clearance from EC, there is no legal impediment to convene a cabinet meeting to finalise the Bill even if MCC is in force. Accordingly, the court adjourned the petition filed by KeLSA seeking effective measures to eradicate ragging, to June 10.KeLSA had filed the petition in the aftermath of a ragging incident at the Govt College of Nursing, Kottayam, last year, where junior students were allegedly subjected to severe physical abuse, including being forced to tie dumbbells to their private parts. During the last hearing of the petition on March 31, HC had expressed its unhappiness with regard to the progress made in finalising the draft Kerala Prohibition of Ragging (Amendment) Bill. This was because, despite an earlier assurance that the Bill would be placed before the cabinet at the earliest, it was later submitted that, with the assembly election announced and MCC coming into force, a cabinet meeting was not possible. Accordingly, the court had directed the law secretary to be present in court and explain the delay. Additionally, the additional chief secretary (home) was directed to approach the Election Commission for exemption from MCC and permission to convene a cabinet meeting for finalisation of the draft Bill.On Friday, a communication from EC to the chief electoral officer, Kerala, granting permission to convene a cabinet meeting, was placed before court. Accordingly, HC adjourned the matter to enable the convening of a cabinet meeting to finalise the Bill.