In a significant development for India’s education sector, the Supreme Court on Wednesday consented to a swift hearing of a PIL contesting UGC’s freshly minted ‘Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institution Regulation 2026’. Enforced from January 13, the regulation compels universities and colleges to form equity committees and adopt stringent anti-discrimination protocols.
Chief Justice Suryakant, heading the bench, expressed awareness of the petition’s gravity. He instructed the filer to rectify procedural lapses, promising: ‘We will take it up for hearing.’ This comes amid growing backlash against provisions perceived as discriminatory.
Critics zero in on the rules’ grievance mechanisms, which allegedly exclude general category students from filing complaints. The petition contends this caste-based restriction violates fundamental rights, leaving non-SC/ST/OBC students vulnerable without recourse.
Delving deeper, the challenge accuses the framework of institutionalizing bias. By prioritizing reserved categories for protections, it allegedly encourages impunity against others, undermining the ethos of equal opportunity. The plea urges a halt to rollout until these flaws are addressed.
This PIL joins a chorus of legal actions, with cases like Rahul Diwan and others vs Union of India highlighting systemic concerns. As academia braces for upheaval, the apex court’s ruling could set precedents on balancing social justice with inclusivity.
The controversy underscores tensions in higher education policy-making. Will the UGC’s push for equity withstand constitutional muster? Or will it be recalibrated to embrace all students equally? Observers are glued to the unfolding drama in the nation’s top court.