Centre to Reconsider Controversial UGC Rules as Supreme Court Seeks Review

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that the interests of students from all communities would be protected. He said the government would ensure that no student belonging to any section of society feels dissatisfied or intimidated under the proposed framework.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant also stressed the need to safeguard the interests of every student. He observed that the country's younger generation must be kept in mind while framing regulations and emphasised that the future and interests of young people would receive due consideration.

The government's assurance came during the hearing of petitions challenging the UGC regulations, which were introduced to address caste-based discrimination in universities and colleges.

The petitions filed before the Supreme Court have alleged that the regulations are discriminatory and violate the fundamental rights of students belonging to the general category. During the previous hearing, the Supreme Court had stayed the implementation of the rules, expressing concerns that their language was unclear and that the provisions could be misused.

The court had also suggested that the government constitute a fresh committee to reconsider the regulations and examine their provisions.

The controversy centres on the UGC's new regulations aimed at preventing caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions. The Supreme Court had earlier issued directions while hearing the Rohith Vemula case, asking for rules and regulations to eliminate caste-based discrimination in universities and colleges. Following these directions, the UGC introduced the new framework.

Under the regulations, all universities and colleges were required to establish an Equity Committee. Students belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) could approach these committees to lodge complaints of caste-based discrimination.

While students from SC and ST communities already had the right to file such complaints, the new regulations extended this provision to OBC students as well. The rules also specified that the committees should include representatives from SC, ST and OBC communities. However, they did not make it mandatory to include a representative from the general category.

Another major point of contention was the removal of a provision that allowed action to be taken against individuals filing false complaints. The earlier framework contained a provision for action against those making false allegations, but the UGC removed this provision in its new regulations.

The government had amended the UGC Act following the Supreme Court's directions, and the commission issued the new regulations on January 13. However, the provisions triggered widespread resentment among students belonging to the general category.

Those opposing the regulations argued that the definition of discrimination under the UGC framework appeared to recognise caste-based discrimination primarily against SC, ST and OBC communities, while students from the general category were not provided with institutional protection under the rules.

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, subsequently heard the matter and imposed an interim stay on the implementation of the regulations.

With the Centre now indicating that it will review the controversial provisions through a committee, the future of the UGC regulations will depend on the proposed reconsideration, with the Supreme Court emphasising that the interests and protection of students from all sections must remain central to the process.