UGC caste discrimination rules under review, Centre tells Supreme Court

Modi government told the Supreme Court it is reconsidering the UGC's new equity regulations challenged by multiple petitioners. The court has asked the UGC for a common response, keeping the rules in abeyance while scrutiny continues.The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it is reconsidering the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) new equity regulations aimed at addressing caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the UGC, told a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant that the government was examining the regulations and had not yet decided on the course it would take.“I’m not saying which way it will go, but we are reconsidering it,” Mehta told the court.The court, meanwhile, granted the UGC four weeks to respond to a batch of petitions challenging the regulations and directed it to file a comprehensive counter-affidavit addressing the issues raised by all the petitioners. The court earlier said to put the rules in abeyance till the time the finalisation has been made.UGC ASKED TO FILE COMMON RESPONSEThe Supreme Court directed that copies of the UGC’s affidavit be furnished to all the petitioners. The petitioners will then have two weeks to file their rejoinders. The directions came after the petitioners raised concerns about not receiving copies of responses filed by the Centre and the UGC in the proceedings.The matter will now be taken up after four weeks. The case concerns the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, which were notified on January 13.The regulations were framed to address discrimination and promote equity in higher education institutions. However, their provisions have been challenged before the Supreme Court, with petitioners questioning, among other things, the definition and scope of “caste-based discrimination” under the framework.The petitions argue that the definition is restrictive and could leave students from general and non-reserved categories without protection against caste-based discrimination or institutional bias.The petitioners have also raised concerns about the scope of the regulations and the possibility of their provisions being misused.CHALLENGE TO REGULATION 3(c)One of the challenges is directed at Regulation 3(C), which the petitioners have described as arbitrary and discriminatory.According to the petitions, the provision could result in certain sections of students being excluded from the protection contemplated under the regulations. The petitioners have argued that the provision violates constitutional guarantees, including equality, freedom of expression and personal liberty.The challenge also contends that the regulations are inconsistent with the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, and could undermine the objective of ensuring equal opportunity in higher education.The Supreme Court had earlier issued notices to the Centre and the UGC and ordered that the regulations remain in abeyance pending consideration of the challenges.The court's latest directions keep the focus on the UGC's response while the Centre's statement that the regulations are being reconsidered opens the possibility of changes to the framework.For now, the UGC has been given four weeks to place its comprehensive response before the court, after which the petitioners will have an opportunity to respond.- EndsPublished By: Rishab ChauhanPublished On: Aug 20, 2026 14:54 IST