The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to list for hearing a petition challenging the recently notified University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, which mandate the formation of equity committees in higher education institutions. The plea alleges that the regulations adopt a restrictive and non-inclusive definition of caste-based discrimination, thereby excluding certain categories from institutional safeguards.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of submissions made by counsel seeking an urgent hearing. The petitioner argued that the definition of caste-based discrimination under the new rules is limited to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), potentially leaving members of the general category without protection.
Responding to the submission, the Chief Justice acknowledged the concerns and assured that the plea would be listed once procedural defects are addressed.
The regulations, titled University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, were notified on January 13. They require all higher education institutions to establish equity committees to address complaints related to discrimination and to promote inclusive practices. These committees must include representatives from OBCs, SCs, STs, persons with disabilities, and women.
The new framework replaces the UGC’s 2012 regulations on equity in higher education, which were advisory in nature. The petitioner has challenged the 2026 regulations on the grounds that they narrow the scope of caste-based discrimination, potentially undermining the principle of equal protection within educational institutions.ac
