Supreme Court stays new UGC rules amid protests: Know all details
vrushangshah93@gmail.com The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the rollout of the University Grants Commission’s newly notified Equity Regulations, keeping them in abeyance amid mounting protests and legal challenges. The top court ordered that the earlier regulatory framework will continue for now, as it examines concerns that the new rules exclude ‘general category’ students from the grievance redressal mechanism.
The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the recent UGC Equity Regulations on preventing caste-based discrimination on campuses, observing they are prima facie “vague” and “capable of misuse”.
The apex court orally observed that if it does not intervene in the matter, it will lead to a dangerous impact and divide the society.
The Supreme Court order came after various pleas were filed contending that the University Grants Commission (UGC) adopted a “non-inclusionary” definition of caste-based discrimination and excluded certain categories from institutional protection.
‘Dangerous Impact’
A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said court intervention was necessary to prevent social fallout. “If we don’t intervene it will lead to dangerous impact, will divide the society and will have grave impact,” the Court said.
“Prima facie we say that the language of the regulation is vague and experts need to look into for the language to be modulated so that it is not exploited,” the Court observed.
Issuing notice to the UGC and the Centre, the bench formally stayed the regulations. “Issue notices returnable on March 19. SG accepts notice. Since issues raised in 2019 plea shall also have bearing while examining constitutionality. Let these petitions be tagged with the same. Meanwhile let UGC Regulations 2026 shall remain in abeyance,” the Court ordered.
The Court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, notified on January 13 and applicable to all higher educational institutions.
Over New UGC Rules
Petitioners argued that the framework denies grievance redressal and institutional protection to students outside the SC, ST and OBC categories.
They sought a stay on implementation and a declaration that exclusion from grievance mechanisms based on caste identity amounts to “impermissible State discrimination”.
The top court said that, for now, the 2012 UGC regulations will continue to apply. The Court opined that there is complete vagueness in Regulation 3 (C) (which defines caste-based discrimination), and it can be misused. “The language needs to be re-modified,” the court said.
The new regulations, introduced to curb caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, require institutions to establish special committees and helplines to address complaints, especially from students belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) categories.
The new rules notified by the UGC on January 13, which update its 2012 regulations on the same subject, have sparked widespread criticism from general category students, who argue that the framework could lead to discrimination against them, news agency ANI reported.
The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed a recent University Grants Commission (UGC) regulation after various pleas were filed contending that the Commission adopted a non-inclusionary definition of caste-based discrimination and excluded certain categories from institutional protection.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to the Centre and the UGC on the pleas challenging the regulation.
The new regulations mandating all higher education institutions to form “equity committees” to look into discrimination complaints and promote equity were notified on January 13.
The University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, mandated that these committees must include members of the Other Backward Classes (OBC), the Scheduled Castes (SC), the Scheduled Tribes (ST), persons with disabilities, and women.
The new regulations replace the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012, which was largely advisory in nature.
The pleas assailed the regulation on the grounds that caste-based discrimination is defined strictly as discrimination against members of the SCs, STs and OBCs.
It said that by limiting the scope of “caste-based discrimination” only to SC, ST and OBC categories, the UGC has effectively denied institutional protection and grievance redressal to individuals belonging to the “general” or non-reserved categories who may also face harassment or bias based on their caste identity, news agency PTI reported.
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