The Supreme Court on Thursday put the University Grants Commission 2026 equity regulations on hold, calling them vague and vulnerable to misuse, amid protests by students and petitions challenging the new rules. The court said the regulations need to be re-examined carefully and directed that the older 2012 rules will continue for now.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi flagged serious concerns over the wording of the regulations. The Chief Justice said the language appeared unclear and could be exploited. “Prima facie, there is complete vagueness. This kind of situation can be exploited,” he observed, while issuing notice to the Centre and the UGC.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice expressed concern over the persistence of caste-based discrimination even after decades of independence. “In a country after 75 years, whatever we have achieved towards becoming a classless society, are we becoming a regressive society,” he asked. Referring to issues like ragging and segregation, he said, “For God’s sake, there are inter caste marriages also. We have also been in hostels where all stayed together.”
Justice Joymalya Bagchi agreed that while the Constitution allows special provisions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under Article 15(4), there should be no step backward in progressive laws. “The unity of India must be reflected in educational institutions. I hope we do not go to segregated schools like the US, where blacks and whites went to different schools,” he said.
The court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the UGC regulations 2026, which require universities and colleges to set up Equal Opportunity Centres and campus-level committees to address discrimination and promote inclusion. The rules triggered protests, particularly from general category students, who argued that the regulations do not provide them with a clear grievance redressal mechanism.
Appearing for the petitioners, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said the definition of caste-based discrimination under the regulations only covers discrimination against SC, ST and OBC communities, excluding general category students. “This definition completely excludes members of the general category. It is hit by Article 14 because discrimination cannot be assumed to exist only against one segment,” he argued.
The bench noted that while protection for marginalised communities must remain in place, others cannot be left without remedy. “The petitioners cannot be left remediless. The redressal system for the marginalised should remain, but the framework must be balanced,” the Chief Justice said. The court also suggested that the Union government consider forming a committee of experts and scholars to review the language and intent of the regulations.
With the Supreme Court staying the UGC equity regulations, all universities and colleges will continue to follow the 2012 anti-discrimination rules until further orders. The court has listed the matter for further hearing on March 19, when related petitions, including those filed by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, will also be taken up.
The UGC regulations were introduced with the stated aim of ensuring equality, dignity and inclusion on campuses. However, critics have argued that the rules could deepen divisions and lead to misuse, a concern now under judicial scrutiny.
