Maharashtra sets up committee to draft policy for student safety, grievance redressal

The Maharashtra government has formed a committee to draft a policy aimed at establishing standards for student protection and grievance redressal across all state universities, affiliated colleges, and private universities. The decision came after the Supreme Court judgment in July in the Sukhdeb Saha matter mandating that educational institutions establish mental health support systems.

The directorate of higher education Pune has been nominated as the nodal officer for this matter. The directorate submitted a draft policy on student protection standards and grievance redressal to be prepared and submitted to the government through a state-level committee of experts.

The committee aims to draft a policy on student protection standards and grievance redressal in all public universities (non-agricultural) and their affiliated colleges, as well as private universities in the state. While drafting the policy, the guidelines given by the SC should be taken into consideration.

Furthermore, the guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and other apex bodies related to higher education, regarding the safety of students, prevention of ragging, and other matters, should be taken into consideration.

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Maharastra’s committee panel members

The list of members for the committee, as directed by the Maharashtra government, is as follows.