Policy approved in Meeting of Board of Governors under Agenda no.41 held on 18-03-2023

Sub.: Policy on Sensitizing & Remedial Measures for Indiscipline Cases of Students.

A new Policy on the above subject has been on the anvil for quite some time now & has been adequately deliberated upon & rehashed in different meetings, including B.O.G. meeting dtd. 18.03.2023, as an alternative & enduring reformative policy with lesser focus on punitive measures. The same is placed below & is applicable to all student indiscipline cases of the campus & the hostels.

Preamble:

Indiscipline issues of students engage the attention, time & energy of the management, administration, faculty & staff, to the dismay of the entire system. Such issues, if not dealt with deterrence, raise their ugly head even more. Dealing with them requires a rather protracted (long-drawn-out) engagement of the defaulter with a ‘process’, & a sustained pressure rather than the short-cut of imposing a fine that causes only little transformation of the defaulter (it simply dents the pocket of the parents).

As attendance defaults are generally dealt with at the fag end of semester with extra / make-up / remedial classes, so the step of “suspension from classes for specified periods” also doesn’t seem to serve as adequate deterrence, rather is paradoxical as, on the one hand, the defaulter is expelled from the class &, on the other hand, the whole machinery works to get him/her into the class & make up his/her attendance.

In the ultimate analysis, enrollment (which has an essential element of happiness) into a possibility, rather than registration (which has an element of pressure) into a possibility is important. The possibility being created via this policy is of an indiscipline-free campus. Towards it, a prolonged five-pronged attack on the menace of indiscipline has been thought fit.

The policy is subtle in that it combines the punitive measures with the pleasures of getting off the hook from a menace with the support of teacher mentors & student mentors. Running in the camaraderie of student mentors can be a pleasure in itself. besides that, getting blessed with endurance, strength & grace, getting to know that so many people stand behind the defaulter, the transformation that the book (of which certain pages are specified to be read & made precis of) causes, the opportunity of community service, the ambience of the forum provided to deliver a talk  –  all have been designed to be combined to make life alive & kicking for the defaulter, freed from the clutches of guilt.

The ‘guiding principle’ for the Dept. / Proctorial Board / ‘Hostels Discipline Committee’ is reformation via ‘enrollment’ processes but ‘deterrence’ may also be called forth in seemingly incorrigible cases less amenable to instruction or taking too much time of enrollment.

The offence / act of indiscipline can be reported by anybody & even the punishment can be recommended by any teacher/ staff/ HoD/ section head, but the quantum & ‘combination’ of sensitizing & remedial measures to be finally taken in each case shall be decided by the concerned Dept. for the indiscipline case in the Dept.; by the ‘Proctorial Board’ for the indiscipline cases in the Campus; & by the ‘Hostels Discipline Committee’ for the indiscipline cases in Hostel premises, & approved by the Director.

THE POLICY:

1. Running for Resilience or Alternative Sports Activity:

Under this head, the defaulter shall be advised to choose one amongst the following:

1.1 Target Running of 2 Km for males or 1 Km for females to condition the mind & the body.

1.2 Alternative sports activity / yoga / pranayama, etc., for the duration (minimum 21 days) & target level as prescribed by Sports Officer of the Institute.

1.3 Making Precis of two different texts, Rendering two Community Services, Serving twice the Probation Period (or till the duration of the Academic Program, whichever is earlier) & paying twice the normal applicable/prescribed fine.

Each of the above options are detailed below:

1.1 Target Running: Each defaulter will be ‘evolved’ as an athlete / player by giving him/her the ‘game’ of running 100 metres, increased by 100 m or more on successive days (in a graded manner, the intensity of the game will be increased without causing injury, cramps, etc. to the player) till he/she is able to complete, over a reasonable period (say, 20 days), a target ‘running’ of 2 Km (1 Km for females) at a stretch at a reasonable pace in a day.

Running is a great stress-buster, leads to detoxification, it makes one acutely present about poor fitness level, enables one to attain freedom from drugs (if addicted to), and improves bodily & mental resilience. Besides running, the defaulter (athlete/player in the making) shall also be sensitized on the benefits of running via counselling by Sports Officer & via the attached article (Annexure-1) on ‘Reading the Mind and Jogging the Brain’.

Rather than allowing it (the prescribed running) to be task-oriented, the defaulter shall experience it as a game, as he/she will be duly supported in performing the task (i.e., running) in camaraderie (healthy friendship) with one/two senior student mentor(s) &/or under the supervision of a sports officer/ expert.

The defaulter must report to the Sports Officer within 2 days from the issue date of the Office Order (awarding sensitizing & remedial measures for the indiscipline case of the student), else the defaulter shall be further penalized.

1.2 Alternative sports: If, owing to severe health condition, the defaulter is unable to undertake running, or if he/she so chooses, then suitable alternative sports activity / yoga / pranayama, etc., for the duration (minimum 21 days) & target level as prescribed by the Sports Officer of the Institute, shall have to be performed by the defaulter.

To impart sustenance to above reformative steps, the defaulter may be prescribed (by the Sports Officer) to participate in some tournament(s) also.

1.3 Taking Up Twice of Other Activities: If the defaulter isn’t convinced about the innumerable & immense benefits of prescribed running / alternative sports, then he/she shall (i) Make Precis of two different texts; (ii) Render two Community Services; (iii) Serve twice the Probation Period or till the duration of the Academic Program, whichever is earlier; & (iv) deposit twice of the fine imposed on him /her. The details of these three activities & the fines are enshrined in Sr. Nos. ‘2’, ‘3’, ‘4’& ‘5’ below.

2. Precis as a Means to Invoking Dormant Neural Network:

Precis-making has always been considered as a mind-sharpening exercise. Brevity is the soul of wit. In weighing the given material (of which precis is to be made) to identify the chaff from the content, one has to necessarily invoke one’s mental faculties. In so doing, the human neural system strengthens itself.

To this end, the defaulter shall be called upon to read one prescribed book from the following list (not exhaustive, but indicative list) or prescribed pages (not less than approx. 10) & make one-page precis of the same within 2-5 days, however, the precis should not match with that of other / previous defaulters, nor be copied from any sources, else the authority awarding the punishment shall continue to prescribe more sets of approx. 10 different pages or books till the defaulter submits an original precis:

Indicative List of Books:

1. Spencer Johnson, “Who Moved My Cheese”, Publisher: Putnam Adult (earlier Vermilion Press).
2. L. Hardayal, “Hints for Self Culture”, Pub.: Khosla Publication (earlier Jaico Pub.).
3. Zbigniew Pietrasinski, “Art of Learning”, Pub.: Pergamon Press.
4. David Goggins, “Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds”, : ‎ Lioncrest Publishing.
5. James Clear, “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones”, : Avery.
6. John Medina, “Brain Rules”, Pub.: Pear Press, Seatle, USA.
7. Rhonda Byrne, “The Secret”, Pub.: Simon & Schuster, U.K.
8. Joseph Murphy, “Power of Subconscious Mind”, Krishana Publication.
9. Ichiro Kishimi, & Fumitake Koga, “The Courage to be Disliked”, Pub.: Simon & Schuster, U.K.
10. R. Gaur, R. Asthana, G.P. Bagaria, “A Foundation Course in Human Values & Professional Ethics”, Pub.: Excel Books Pvt. Ltd.

The precis shall be evaluated (via a brief interview of the defaulter) for whether the defaulter has proper comprehension of the book/ specified pages, for originality, completeness, etc. by a senior teacher of English deputed by the Head, Applied Sci. & Hum. Dept., or by a senior teacher deputed by concerned HoD, & shall be reverted back for needful action, if lacking. In case precis of two different texts are prescribed (as per Sr. no. 1.3), the authority awarding sensitizing & remedial measures may choose different sets of pages or more than one of above books or other substantial books (of similar rigor & nature, i.e., on self-improvement). The report of the evaluator shall be submitted through HoD, ASH or concerned HoD to the authority awarding said measures.

3. Community Service:

Community Service has often been hailed as a reformatory step in different offences. It is an unpaid service to be rendered by the offender for prescribed hours, usually under the supervision of a Probation Officer (appointed by Director/ Chief Proctor/ Proctorial Board or Chief Warden/Hostels Discipline Committee, as the case may be). It has to be an appropriate service intended to benefit the community / system in or against which an offender has committed an offence, & the work should typically be connected with antidote of the offence. For example, a person found guilty of vandalism may be ordered to clean public spaces. Thereby, the offender can reflect on the offence committed & gain an understanding of the consequences of his behavior & actions. Other examples: Organize fun activities for children/ aged persons with cancer; Gather used sports equipment & / or used clothes to give to needy families; Hold a donation drive for winter outfits; Launch a social media awareness campaign; Offer cost-free landscaping services; Delivering an extempore or prepared talk / presentation (before a dept./ larger audience) on a topic related to the default; etc.

Punishment facet of Community Service is meant to serve as a deterrent to other potential offenders. With these considerations, the punishment awarding authority/ the Proctorial Board/ Hostels Discipline Committee shall decide the community service tasks, if any to be awarded in each case.

4. Subjecting to Probation:

Fear of punishment is more important than the punitive action itself, as having lived through the rigours & trauma of punishment, one now knows how to tolerate it or what it takes to go through it, with resultant likelihood of growing obstinate.

Experience shows, it pays off to put defaulters under probation for specific periods. So each defaulter, depending upon the extent / severity of default, shall be put on ‘probation’ for a specified period or for the rest of his stay in the Institute, & if he/ she defaults again in the probation period, he/she shall be expelled from the Institute or will be awarded punishment higher than that deemed fit to his/her case under this policy.

5. Fines & Other Punishments Pertinent to Severity of Default:

Depending upon severity of indiscipline, along with other measures (tasks to be undertaken by the defaulters) as deemed fit to the case, the concerned Dept./ Proctorial Board/ Hostels Discipline Committee shall suggest fines & / or punishments to be imposed as per following suggestive list (Table-1), or even more than the minimum in these punishment rules. For the cases not covered in the list, the Director shall be the final authority to impose the punishment /fine on the recommendation of the concerned Dept./ Proctorial Board/ Hostels Discipline Committee.

Table-1: Punishments/ Fines to be imposed against Default/ Offence.

(**): Each pass shall be super-scribed with a warning, “Misuse of pass will lead to black-listing of Guest”. Gradually, the issue of passes shall be minimized / discontinued. The inviting person &/or his/her authorized person shall usher the guest from the Institute Gate & remain responsible for all actions on behalf of the concerned Guest.

Notes:

1. In cases warranting the attention of parents, the parents of defaulters shall be called to the office of Proctor/ HoD/ Chief Warden/ CoE/ Registrar/ Dean / Director to apprise the parents about the gravity of the case and to seek their intervention in the remedial / correctional course(s) of action. Also, parents’ affidavit, guaranteeing good behavior of their ward in future, shall be taken by the office of the concerned Officer. The defaulters may also be put on probation for specific periods deemed fit to their case.
2. In all severe cases, intervention of mentors, relevant officers, resp. HoDs / Deans / Registrar / Chief Proctor / Chief Warden/ CoE/ Sports Officer also to be taken.
3. To serve as deterrence to even others, all Notices about imposition of penalties on defaulters shall not only be placed on the Notice Board of the concerned Dept., but also on the Notice Boards of other Depts., and also copies thereof shall be marked to all concerned quarters such as Head of concerned Dept., Dean Academics, Dean Engg., Dean Students Welfare, Controller of Examinations, Finance Officer, Registrar, Director. In cases warranting intervention of District Administration / Police etc., as per the case, copies shall be marked accordingly.
4. Repetition of the act(s) of indiscipline are to be treated seriously & may attract higher punishment or even termination from the College.
5. In case of expulsion from the Institute, no Character Certificate shall be issued to the defaulter. Even in other cases, non-issuance of Character Certificate may be considered as per the case.
6. Fine will be collected either through direct receipt with Institute cashier/ Accounts Branch or through adding in Sem. Fees. In either case, the defaulter has to submit, through concerned HoD/ Chief Warden/ Chief Proctor, a copy of proof of deposited fine to the authority awarding punishment
7. The Director shall be the Competent Authority vested with the power to add to these rules or delete or amend any of the existing rules from time to time. The Director shall be the final authority to approve / award the punishment/ fine & to make the interpretation of these Rules & Regulations, in case of any dispute or ambiguity.
8. The jurisdiction shall be confined to Panipat only.