Ragging is a punishable offence and can lead to cancellation of admission, KBN University Pro Vice-Chancellor Syed Ashfaq Ahmed warned students on Wednesday.

Inaugurating Anti-Ragging Week, Prof. Ahmed said student life was an important phase in which young people develop good conduct and learn to make responsible decisions. Ragging could subject students to mental trauma and fear and adversely affect their future, he said.

He cautioned senior students that indulging in ragging could jeopardise their own academic and professional future. “Ragging is a punishable offence and admission can be cancelled,” he said.

University Registrar Mir Vilayat said there was no place for ragging at KBN University, and students should not be subjected to mental or physical harassment or humiliation in the name of fun. He urged students not to play with their own or others’ lives and said any incident of ragging should immediately be brought to the notice of the Anti-Ragging Committee or the university management.

He said students should also inform committee members if they witnessed any such incident and cautioned that those found responsible would face legal and disciplinary action.

Student Welfare Counsellor Ashwathi spoke about ragging and the need for greater awareness among students. A video on anti-ragging awareness was also screened.

Later, Mahalakshmi of the Faculty of Law conducted a seminar on the law relating to ragging and explained the relevant legal provisions.