Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Aug 12: Students of the 2023-28 batch at the India International University of Legal Education and Research (IIULER), Goa, have acknowledged that newly admitted first-year students were allegedly subjected to ragging on the university campus.

In a statement issued on August 11, the students said the incident took place on August 9, when newly admitted students were allegedly intimidated, physically assaulted and subjected to treatment that violated their dignity during their initial days on campus.

The statement said those allegedly responsible were members of the same batch and made it clear that the students did not intend to defend, excuse or minimise the incident.

“Seniority does not give any student authority over another student's body, dignity, or safety,” the statement said, adding that the incident was not a tradition, initiation or harmless mischief but was wrong.

The students said accountability for the incident rested with the university's official inquiry and that they would neither interfere with nor pre-empt the investigation.

However, when contacted by Bar & Bench, IIULER Additional Public Relations Officer Rajnish said the university was not aware of any such incident. Attempts to obtain a response from IIULER Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr R Venkata Rao were unsuccessful.

The alleged ragging incident and the student statement came two days after IIULER hosted Deeksharambh, its orientation programme for the incoming 2026 batch.

During the event, Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra announced that a National Legal Academy for compulsory training of lawyers would be established on the IIULER campus.