The Supreme Court on Thursday put on hold the University Grants Commission’s (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, responding to mounting protests and legal challenges from across the country. The interim stay comes amid growing controversy over the new framework aimed at addressing caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities.
The regulations were challenged before the apex court by multiple petitioners who alleged that the rules were arbitrary, exclusionary, and violative of both constitutional principles and the University Grants Commission Act, 1956. Taking note of these concerns, the court ordered that the earlier 2012 UGC regulations on the subject would continue to remain in force until further orders.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court raised serious concerns over the wording of Regulation 3(C), which attempts to define caste-based discrimination. The bench observed that the provision lacked clarity and was framed in vague terms, making it susceptible to misuse.
The 2026 regulations were introduced by the UGC as an update to its decade-old framework, with the stated objective of strengthening mechanisms to prevent discrimination against students from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. Under the new rules, higher education institutions are required to constitute dedicated equity committees and establish helplines to address complaints related to discrimination and harassment.
However, the move triggered sharp criticism, particularly from students belonging to the general category, who argue that the regulations create an imbalanced system and risk institutionalising bias. The opposition to the rules spilled onto campuses earlier this week, when students staged protests at Delhi University’s North Campus.
Demonstrators demanded the immediate withdrawal of the regulations, alleging that instead of fostering equality, the new norms could deepen divisions within academic spaces. Protesters also pointed out that the rules do not mandate representation for general category students within the proposed committees.
