The Supreme Court  stayed the 2026 University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations, expressing that certain reservations about the new rules are challenged as discriminatory towards the “general classes.” During the hearing, the apex court suggested that the new set of rules aimed at promoting equality in higher education institutions (HEI) must be revisited by a committee of eminent jurists.

SC calls new UGC regulations ‘Vague’

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi called the UGC regulations, notified on January 23, “vague” and “capable of misuse,” before putting them in abeyance. The top court was hearing three writ petitions filed by Advocate Vineet Jindal, Mritunjay Tiwari, and Rahul Dewan that challenged its constitutionality, Live Law reported. A notice was issued to the Union and the Commission on the petitions, scheduled to be returnable on March 19. Until then, the new UGC regulations will be kept in abeyance amid concerns about the clarity of definitions.

Petitioners allege arbitrary and discriminatory provisions

Supreme Court’s fresh order comes amid nationwide protests over the legislation’s controversial definition of discrimination. The new UGC regulations were contested by multiple petitioners on the grounds that they are arbitrary, exclusionary, discriminatory, and violate the UGC Act of 1956. The plea challenged the regulations, claiming that caste-based discrimination was classified strictly as discrimination against the Scheduled Castes (SC), the Scheduled Tribes (ST), and the OBC community members.

2012 UGC rules continue to apply

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing one of the petitioners, told the court that bias against the general category has not been included in Regulation 3(1)(c). On the other hand, Petitioners argued that this leads to an exclusionary regime that denies students from the general category access to the grievance redressal mechanism. Additionally, they highlighted that the 2026 regulations violate the guarantee of equality under Articles 14 and 15. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court ordered that the 2012 UGC rules will continue to apply as of now.

Here’s what the Supreme Court said

• CJI Surya Kant pointed out that some people belonging to the scheduled caste have become “economically prosperous.” During the hearing, the court also questioned the proposed remedial provision in the 2026 Regulations in the form of separate hostels for different castes. “For god’s sake, don’t do this! We all used to stay together…There are inter-caste marriages also,” the Chief Justice said, Live Law reported.
• “The language needs to be re-modified”
• “We are simply examining it on the threshold of constitutionality and legality.”
• “Unity of India must be reflected in our educational institutions,” the court said.
• “We want free, equitable and inclusive atmosphere in educational institutions.”

Students demand immediate rollback of new rules

Student groups and organisations have been demanding an immediate rollback of the new UGC rules. The protesters said that the 2026 regulations “aggravate existing differences instead of promoting sensitisation.”