SC Agrees To Hear Plea Against UGC Equity Rules Over Caste Discrimination Definition

Last Updated:January 28, 2026, 13:20 IST

The plea challenges the new rules on the ground that caste-based discrimination has been narrowly defined as discrimination only against SC, ST and OBC communities.

On Tuesday, several students conducted protests outside the UGC headquarters. (Image: PTI)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to list for hearing a petition challenging the recently notified University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, with the plea alleging that the rules adopt a non-inclusive definition of caste-based discrimination and exclude certain categories from institutional protection.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of submissions made by a lawyer seeking an urgent hearing of the matter.

“There is a possibility of discrimination against the general class. My case is ‘Rahul Dewan and Ors vs Union’," the lawyer told the court.

“We know what is happening. Make sure defects are cured. We will list it," the Chief Justice said.

The regulations in question, the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, were notified on January 13 and mandate all higher education institutions to constitute “equity committees" to address complaints of discrimination and promote equity on campuses.

Under the new framework, these committees are required to include representatives from Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), persons with disabilities, and women. The 2026 regulations replace the earlier UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012, which were largely advisory in nature.

The plea challenges the new rules on the ground that caste-based discrimination has been narrowly defined as discrimination only against SC, ST and OBC communities. It argues that by limiting the definition in this manner, the UGC has denied institutional protection and grievance redressal mechanisms to individuals from the “general" or non-reserved categories who may also face caste-based harassment or bias.

The regulations have also sparked protests in several places, with student groups and organisations demanding their immediate rollback.

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