Bhubaneswar: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) 2026 regulations on equity committees, observing that the provisions were vague and susceptible to misuse, with the potential to create social divisions.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant put the regulations on hold after noting concerns over their narrow scope. The rules mandated the formation of equity committees to address caste-based discrimination specifically against Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), while excluding students from the general category. The move had triggered nationwide protests, with critics arguing that the framework violated the principle of equal protection.
Pending further hearing, the court directed educational institutions to continue following the UGC’s 2012 anti-discrimination regulations, which provide broader safeguards for all students.
The matter will be heard next on March 19, as the court examines the balance between affirmative action and universal protections against discrimination within higher education institutions.
-OdishaAge
