US EditionSC Agrees to Take up PIL Challenging UGC Regulations on Caste Discrimination as Row Erupts over ‘Draconian’ Definition
The plea argues UGC’s narrow caste discrimination definition excludes general category students, violating constitutional protections and raising concerns of hostile discrimination, say petitioners.
- On Wednesday, the Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant agreed to list for hearing a plea challenging the University Grants Commission's Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, notified on January 13, 2026.
- Petitioners led by Rahul Dewan argued Regulation 3 lacks intelligible differentia and violates Article 14 of the Constitution of India by breaching equality protections.
- Under the UGC rules, every institution must constitute Equal Opportunity Centres with representation from OBCs, SCs, STs, PwDs and Women and coordinate with District and State Legal Services Authorities.
- A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of submissions and asked Advocate Parth Yadav to cure defects and provide a case number for Rahul Dewan and Ors vs Union.
- Amid social media uproar, UGC's new rules have provoked outrage among students, teachers and social groups and trended as #ShameonUGC on microblogging platform X, while petitioners warned the protections create hostile discrimination invoking Indra Sawhney v Union of India .
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The Supreme Court will hear a public interest litigation today challenging the UGC's new anti-discrimination regulations. The petitioners allege that the new regulations discriminate against general category students and are vulnerable to misuse. The regulations mandate the formation of equity committees in higher educational institutions, which must include representation from OBCs, SCs, STs, women, and persons with disabilities, while excludin…
SC to hear petitions challenging UGC's new regulations today
New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear on Thursday a batch of petitions challenging the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026. As per the cause list published on the website of the apex court, a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi will take up the matter for hearing later in the day. Earlier on Wednesday, the CJI had agreed to list for he…
SC agrees to take up PIL challenging UGC regulations on caste discrimination as row erupts over ‘draconian’ definition
The petitioners submitted before the Supreme Court that the UGC regulations “institutionalise a narrow and exclusionary definition of caste-based discrimination” and “provides selective protection”.
The New Indian Express
Supreme Court agrees to list for hearing plea against UGC 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.
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