The bill was passed in the winter session of the Assembly with the purpose of banning ragging in educational institutions. It provides for imprisonment of two years and a fine of Rs 10,000 or both for the offenders. The bill also says that if a student is expelled from an educational institution on charges of ragging, he will not be eligible for admission to any university or college for the next five years.

Sources said the Governor had reservations over some provisions of the bill, which, according to the Raj Bhawan, encroach upon the autonomy of the state universities.

As per the provisions of the UP State Universities Act 1972, the state government cannot interfere in the day-to-day affairs and administration of the varsities. The Governor is the Chancellor of all universities.

Sources said the Governor was not satisfied with a provision in the bill, which designates the divisional commissioner as the appellate authority against the orders passed by the Vice-Chancellor for expelling or restricting the entry of a student or a group of students in the campus if they were found indulging in ragging.

Under Section 4 of the bill, within 30 days of the VC passing such an order, the accused can file an appeal before the divisional commissioner, whose order will be final.

Moreover, Section 8 of the bill provides that if the head of an educational institution fails to take action against the students indulging in ragging or ignores the complaints, it will be treated as aiding and abetting ragging and shall be liable for punishment with two years of imprisonment and fine of Rs 10,000.

Sources said the Raj Bhawan also had reservations over the definition of "educational institution" given in the bill.