‘Vague and dangerous’: Supreme Court stays UGC equity regulations, warns of social divide

Amid protests demanding a rollback of the UGC equity regulations for excluding general and non-reserved categories from protection against caste-based discrimination, the Supreme Court today stayed the rules, observing that they are "vague" and "capable of misuse".

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that if it does not intervene in the matter, it will lead to a “dangerous impact and divide the society”.

The top court order comes after various pleas were filed contending that the University Grants Commission (UGC) adopted a “non-inclusionary” definition of caste-based discrimination and excluded general and non-reserved categories from institutional protection.

"Issue notice, returnable on March 19. Solicitor General accepts notice.... Meanwhile, let UGC Regulations 2026 shall remain in abeyance and 2012 regulations shall continue," the bench said.

Why the UGC regulation is facing opposition

The University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, notified on January 13, mandated all higher educational institutions to form “equity committees" to look into discrimination complaints.

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 rules state.

The new regulation replaces the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012, which was largely advisory in nature. Pleas were filed against the new regulations as it limits the scope of caste discrimination to SC, ST, and OBC.

Protesting students, teachers, and political leaders, said this means 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.

The top court was hearing pleas challenging the constitutional validity of UGC Equity Regulations 2026 filed by Mritunjay Tiwari, advocate Vineet Jindal and Rahul Dewan.