New Delhi: The Supreme Court is set to hear a batch of petitions challenging the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026. According to the cause list published on the Supreme Court’s website, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud along with Justice Joymalya Bagchi will take up the matter on January 29.
Earlier in the day, CJI Chandrachud had agreed to list the petitions urgently after they were mentioned before the court. The Chief Justice assured the petitioner’s counsel that the hearing would proceed once the deficiencies in the petitions were rectified. “We are aware of the situation. Make sure the deficiencies are removed. We will list the case,” he said.
The petitions challenge the UGC’s equity regulations on the grounds that they discriminate against the general category by excluding them from effective grievance redressal mechanisms. The petitioners argue that the regulations institutionalise discrimination by denying access to complaint resolution processes for individuals outside the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes categories.
The challenge contends that the rules violate the principles of equality and fair access to higher education by limiting the scope of caste-based discrimination to only SC, ST, and OBC members. It is argued that this definition legally recognises victimhood only for specified reserved categories while explicitly excluding persons from general or upper caste backgrounds, regardless of the nature, severity, or context of discrimination they face.
The petitions seek directions to ensure that until Rule 3(c) is reconsidered or amended, the Equal Opportunity Centres, Equity Helpline, investigation mechanisms, and Lokpal proceedings under these regulations provide services in a non-discriminatory and caste-neutral manner. It is further argued that denying access to grievance redressal based on caste identity amounts to impermissible state discrimination and violates Articles 14, 15(1), and 21 of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court’s forthcoming hearing will address these significant concerns related to equity and non-discrimination in higher education institutions across the country.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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