SGC

Code of Conduct

Student Guidance Cell — Code of Conduct

The Student Guidance Cell (SGC) is a formally constituted student community committed to excellence, mutual respect, and principled conduct. This Code of Conduct (CoC) is binding on all enrolled members from the date of induction. Non-compliance attracts disciplinary action as defined herein.

I. Forms of Address

Addressing Senior Members

  • All seniors (higher semester or year) shall be addressed as Brother [Name] or Sister [Name] e.g., Brother Arjun, Sister Fathima, until formally invited to use first names.
  • The same courtesy titles apply in written communications, group chats, and all official SGC channels.

Addressing Peers & Juniors

  • Peers within the same batch may be addressed by first name when both parties are comfortable.
  • Juniors shall be addressed respectfully by first name. Senior members shall never use condescending, dismissive, or authority-abusing tones with juniors.

Addressing Faculty & Staff

  • Faculty, coordinators, and administrative personnel shall be addressed as Sir, Ma'am without exception.
  • All formal written communication must open with a proper salutation and close with the member's full name and roll number.

Prohibited Address

  • Derogatory nicknames, appearance-based labels, caste-linked monikers, or any address that demeans a member is a conduct violation.

In-Person Etiquette

  • Acknowledge seniors with a courteous nod or greeting upon entering shared spaces/college.
  • During formal sessions, remain seated with devices silenced; do not interrupt speakers.

II. Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH)

The SGC is an unconditionally safe space for all members. The following policy covers physical, verbal, digital, and non-verbal conduct in alignment with the POSH Act. Every member regardless of seniority, is equally bound.

Physical Harassment — Prohibited Conduct

  • Any uninvited or unwanted touching — hands, shoulders, waist, face, or any body part without explicit consent.
  • Deliberately crowding, cornering, blocking a member's path, or invading personal space in a way that causes discomfort.
  • Sexually suggestive gestures, obscene mimicry, leering, or any body language intended to make a member uncomfortable.
  • Unwanted hugs, pats, or physical contact framed as jokes. Consent is non-negotiable, always.
  • Pushing, shoving, prodding, or any aggressive physical contact, however minor.

Verbal & Conversational Harassment — Prohibited Conduct

  • Comments about a member's body, appearance, or attractiveness, whether directly or indirectly.
  • Sexually loaded language, crude jokes, double entendres, or innuendos in any SGC space.
  • Repeatedly asking for dates, personal favours, or companionship after being declined.
  • Spreading rumours or fabricated stories of a sexual or intimate nature about any member.
  • Trivialising or mocking a member's discomfort — 'It was just a joke' or 'Don't be sensitive' — is itself a violation.

Cyberbullying & Digital Harassment — Prohibited Conduct

  • Sending unsolicited personal, romantic, sexual, or threatening messages through any digital medium.
  • Sharing, forwarding, or posting images, memes, or videos that ridicule, demean, or sexualise any member without consent.
  • Doxxing: sharing a member's private information (address, photos, contact) without consent.
  • Impersonating another member online or sending messages on their behalf to deceive or harm.
  • Screenshotting or recording private conversations and sharing them without all parties' consent.
  • Coordinated targeting, mass reporting, group exclusion, or sustained online harassment campaigns.

Non-Verbal & Environmental Harassment — Prohibited Conduct

  • Persistent staring, following, or surveilling a member in a way that causes fear or discomfort.
  • Displaying or circulating sexually explicit or offensive materials in any SGC physical or digital space.
  • Deliberate collective exclusion or group silencing with intent to isolate or harm a member.

Reporting & Redressal

  • Complaints may be raised with the SGC CoC Moderators: in writing, verbally, or anonymously via the SGC Grievance Portal.
  • All complaints are strictly confidential. The complainant's identity is protected.
  • Complaints are acknowledged within 24 hours and resolved within 3 working days.
  • Retaliation against any complainant is an independent violation subject to immediate disciplinary action.

III. Zero-Tolerance & Anti-Discrimination

  • Racism, casteism, colourism, or any commentary referencing ethnicity, national origin, or skin tone in any form is strictly prohibited.
  • Sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation are categorically banned.
  • Religious intolerance or derogatory remarks about faith, including jokes, shall not be condoned.
  • Ableism or bullying based on disability, neurodivergence, mental health, or physical appearance is explicitly prohibited.
  • Witnesses of such conduct are duty-bound to report to the SGC Ethics Committee within 24 hours.

IV. Professional Conduct & Community Standards

General Conduct

  • Members shall present themselves in neat, dignified attire at all official SGC events.
  • Profane, obscene, or offensive language is prohibited within all SGC premises and digital channels.
  • Members shall not consume alcohol, narcotics, or controlled substances in connection with SGC activities.
  • Punctuality is mandatory. Habitual tardiness attracts a formal demerit in the member's record.
  • Confidential SGC information shall not be disclosed externally without written Board authorisation.

Digital & Social Media

  • Members shall not post content that misrepresents the SGC or discredits any associated individual.
  • SGC branding and logos may not be used externally without prior written approval.
  • Members are personally accountable for all content published under their credentials on SGC platforms.

Standards of Excellence

  • Members shall contribute at least one initiative, workshop, or project per semester.
  • Plagiarism or uncredited use of peers' work in SGC projects is a serious ethical violation.
  • Members representing SGC externally shall maintain decorum befitting the institution.

Disciplinary Framework

  • Level I — Minor Infraction: Written warning and mandatory counselling session.
  • Level II — Moderate Infraction: Suspension of SGC privileges, community service, notation in record.
  • Level III — Severe / Repeat Infraction: Permanent termination of membership and full revocation of all SGC access rights.
  • In case of POSH violations, after investigations & procedures, direct termination will be proceeded, no more disciplinary frameworks.
  • All members under review retain the right to a fair hearing prior to any Level III action.

V. Member Self-Declaration

  • Immediate and permanent termination of my SGC membership.
  • Complete revocation and locking of all SGC platform access including member portals, communication channels, event systems, shared repositories, email aliases, and all associated credentials.
  • Formal notation of the violation in the SGC internal registry, which may be shared with institutional authorities at the Board's discretion.
  • Permanent ineligibility for re-admission to the SGC, unless overturned by unanimous vote of the Executive Board.

I acknowledge that ignorance of the Code of Conduct does not excuse non-compliance. All members must familiarise themselves with this document and stay updated on any amendments.

By being a member of SGC, all members are deemed to have read, understood, and agreed to this Code of Conduct.

SGC — Confidential Internal Document