New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Thursday put an interim stay on the recently notified University Grants Commission (UGC) Equity Regulations aimed at preventing caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions. The apex court observed that the regulations appear to be prima facie vague and may be susceptible to misuse, raising concerns about their potential social impact.
The stay came while hearing multiple petitions challenging the scope and definition of caste-based discrimination under the new UGC framework. Petitioners argued that the regulations adopt a narrow and non-inclusive definition, allegedly excluding individuals from the ‘general’ category from institutional protection.
Under the new rules, universities and colleges were mandated to constitute “Equity Committees” to address complaints related to discrimination on campuses. However, the challengers contended that the lack of clarity in the regulations could lead to selective interpretation and arbitrary action by institutions.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court made strong oral observations, stating that if the court did not intervene at this stage, the regulations could have dangerous consequences and potentially deepen social divisions. The bench noted that ambiguous legal provisions, especially on sensitive social issues, often create room for conflict rather than resolution.
The court also took note of the broader concerns raised in the petitions, which claimed that by adopting a non-inclusionary approach, the UGC had failed to ensure equal protection for all stakeholders within educational institutions. According to the petitioners, such an approach undermines the very objective of equity and fairness that the regulations seek to promote.
Meanwhile, the regulations have sparked protests across several campuses, with student groups and organisations demanding their immediate withdrawal. Protesters argued that the framework neither reflects ground realities nor provides a balanced mechanism to address discrimination in all its forms.
With the Supreme Court’s interim order, the implementation of the UGC Equity Regulations remains on hold. The final outcome will depend on the court’s detailed examination in the upcoming hearings, a decision that is expected to have significant implications for campus governance, social harmony, and the broader discourse on equality in higher education across the country.
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