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The Supreme Court on Thursday, January 29, stayed the implementation of the University Grants Commission’s newly notified equity regulations after nationwide student protests and multiple legal challenges raised questions over their clarity and fairness. The court directed that the earlier 2012 UGC regulations will continue to apply for now, observing that key provisions in the new rules are vague and could be misused. The interim order comes amid demonstrations on university campuses across the country and an intense debate over how caste-based discrimination should be addressed in higher education.

In January, the University Grants Commission rolled out the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, a new set of rules aimed at tightening protections against caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities. The regulations are meant to replace the 2012 guidelines, which have for years been criticised for lacking teeth and functioning more as recommendations than enforceable rules. Under the 2026 regulations, every higher education institution was required to establish Equal Opportunity Centres, equity committees and helplines to handle complaints.

The regulations set clear deadlines for completing inquiries and place direct responsibility on university authorities for any failure to follow the rules. They place particular emphasis on complaints from students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.

Soon after the notification, protests broke out on several campuses. Protesting students argued that the regulations risked creating an atmosphere of fear and suspicion on campuses instead of fostering equality and inclusion. They called for the rules to be scrapped and insisted that any changes should be made only after wider consultations with all stakeholders.

Hearing the petitions against the new UGC rules, the Supreme Court made it clear that it is uneasy with how caste-based discrimination has been defined. The judges said the wording is too loose and open-ended, which could easily lead to confusion or even misuse.

The court underlined that ending discrimination is non-negotiable under the Constitution. But it also said the rules framed to deal with it have to be tight, clear and sensible - strong enough to protect students, without creating new tensions or uncertainty on university campuses.

Vague or loosely worded rules, it cautioned, could deepen divisions and disrupt the academic atmosphere in universities.

As part of its interim order, the Supreme Court said the older 2012 UGC rules on equity and non-discrimination will continue to apply for now. The judges pointed out that these guidelines focus more on awareness, sensitisation and the responsibility of institutions, instead of relying mainly on punishment. It indicated that this framework would continue for now, while the Centre and the UGC revisit the wording and structure of the new regulations.

As criticism mounted, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan sought to calm concerns, saying the regulations were not meant to be misused and that discrimination against any group would not be allowed. He said the objective was to ensure fairness and dignity for all students on campus.

Critics, however, argued that intent by itself was not enough. They said the rules required clearer language and stronger safeguards to prevent arbitrary interpretation and to protect students across categories.