Supreme Court stays UGC Equity Regulations 2026

The Court flags ‘complete vagueness’ in the new provisions that makes them prone to misuse

New Delhi – The Supreme Court has given an interim stay to the new rules of the University Grants Commission (UGC), saying that “the provisions in these rules are unclear and can be misused.” The Court directed the Union Government to draft the provisions again. The next hearing will be in March. “Till then, these rules are kept in abeyance.”

⚖️ Vishnu Jain: Supreme Court stays new UGC equity rules 🚨

Counsel @Vishnu_Jain says the Court has kept the new UGC regulations in abeyance and ordered that UGC Regulations, 2012 will continue till further orders.

📅 Next hearing: March 19

The General Category students had… https://t.co/H5XbfL0eXW pic.twitter.com/B3ixZn8OOW

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) January 29, 2026

Are we becoming a regressive society?

Chief Justice Suryakant asked the Union Government, “how much progress have we made towards a casteless society?” “Even after 75 years of independence, we have not been able to free the society from caste.” “Are we becoming a regressive society with this new law?”

“The victims cannot be deprived of justice.”

“We have nothing to do with the complaints of the general category.” “Our concern is that the redressal system for the reserved communities should remain in place.”

A committee of eminent persons should look into it : CJI suggests

During the hearing, the petitioners demanded that the new rules be struck down and requested an immediate stay on them. The petitioners stated that “if permission is granted, we can make more appropriate rules.” On this, the Chief Justice said, “We want a committee of some eminent persons to look into this issue.”

General category students are at risk of harassment : Petitioner

The advocate of one of the petitioners said, “If I am a general category student, the seniors will see me and know that I am a newcomer. After that, I will be harassed. If the senior is from a Scheduled Caste, action will be taken against me.” The Court asked, “Will your complaint of harassment be considered under these provisions?” The lawyer replied, “No; but I have no other option. Anticipatory bail is not an option; because the Government has made reforms. The career of this student will be ruined.”

The lawyer asked, “Why was the definition of harassment excluded from the rules in relation to a student who has suffered harassment?” The lawyer said that “these regulations are limited to caste-based issues only. They do not consider the actual reality. The distinction between senior and junior is not included in them.”

New rules will increase animosity in the society : Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain

During the hearing, Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said that “we are challenging Section 3C of the UGC rules; because it mentions caste discrimination.” He said that “the definition of discrimination given in the rules is not entirely correct.” He said the rules “are against the spirit of equality in the Constitution.” “According to the Constitution, the issue of discrimination is related to all citizens of the country; but the UGC new rules are limited to only a specific category.” He submitted that “this is also against the spirit of the orders given earlier by the Supreme Court.” He said, “This will increase animosity in the society.” “This is against the principles of equality in the Constitution.”

Opposition to the rules continues

Opposition to the new rules continues across the country from upper-caste students and ordinary citizens. On January 29^th, students protested outside Delhi University. Students also protested in the premises of Lucknow University in Uttar Pradesh.