New Delhi: In a significant intervention, the Supreme Court of India on Thursday ordered a stay on the implementation of the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026. A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that the regulations, in their current form, were "vague" and could lead to "dangerous consequences" by dividing society.

The Court has ordered that the regulations be kept in abeyance (on hold) and issued notices to the UGC and the Central Government. In the interim, the Court directed that the 2012 UGC Regulations will continue to remain in force to ensure that students are not left without a grievance redressal mechanism.

The UGC notified the 2026 Regulations on January 13, seeking to replace the decade-old 2012 framework. The stated objective was to eradicate discrimination in higher educational institutions (HEIs) based on religion, race, gender, place of birth, caste, or disability.

However, the regulations immediately sparked a firestorm of protests and legal challenges. The primary grievance of the petitioners—represented by Advocate Vishnu Jain and others—is that the rules effectively exclude 'General Category' students from seeking protection against caste-based harassment.

The petitioners argued that by limiting the definition of "victimhood" to specific reserved categories, the government has created a "hierarchy of protection" that violates the right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution.

During the hearing, the Bench expressed deep concern over the drafting of the regulations. The Court highlighted a glaring contradiction between two key sections:

Section 3(c): Defines "caste-based discrimination" specifically as discrimination against members of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).
Section 3(e): Provides a broader definition of "discrimination" covering grounds like religion, race, caste, gender, place of birth, and disability for any stakeholder.

CJI Surya Kant questioned the logic of having a separate, narrower definition for caste in Section 3(c) when the broader definition in Section 3(e) already covers it.

"When 3(c) is already ingrained in 3(e), why bring it as a separate provision? This kind of situation can be exploited," the CJI remarked.

The Court lamented that even 75 years after Independence, the nation is struggling with such divisions. "In a country after 75 years... are we becoming a regressive society? The worst thing happening in ragging is that children coming from the South or North-East carry their culture, and somebody starts commenting on them. Then you have spoken about separate hostels. For God's sake! We have been in hostels where all stayed together," the CJI added.

Advocate Vishnu Jain, appearing for the petitioners, contended that the exclusion of the General Category from the definition of caste-based discrimination is unconstitutional. He argued that discrimination is not "unidirectional" and that any student, regardless of their background, should have access to institutional protection if they are humiliated or harassed.

The CJI posed a hypothetical scenario to test this: "Suppose a student from the South gets admission in the North... some kind of sarcastic remark which is humiliating is made against him, and the caste of both parties is not known. Which provision covers it?"

While Jain replied that Section 3(e) covers it, he pointed out that Section 3(c) creates a specialized mechanism (Equal Opportunity Centers and Equity Committees) that remains inaccessible to General Category students under the current wording.

The Court also took note of the "vague" language used in the notification, suggesting that it could be "weaponized" or misused on campuses. Justice Joymalya Bagchi emphasized the principle of "non-regression," noting that while Article 15(4) empowers the state to make special laws for SC/STs, a progressive legislation should not move backward by excluding others from basic protection.

"If we don't intervene, it will lead to a dangerous impact, will divide the society, and will have a grave impact," the Bench noted in its order.

The Court suggested that the Central Government should consider forming a committee of eminent persons to re-examine the language of the regulations to ensure they are fair and inclusive for all students.

The Supreme Court has tagged these petitions with an earlier 2019 plea regarding similar issues. The Solicitor General (SG) has accepted notice on behalf of the Union and the UGC.

Key Takeaways from the Order:

Stay Imposed: The 2026 Regulations cannot be implemented for now.
Old Rules Revived: The 2012 Regulations will govern discrimination complaints in the interim.
Expert Review: The Court has hinted that an expert committee needs to "modulate" the language to prevent exploitation.
Next Hearing: The matter is scheduled for further deliberation on March 19, 2026.

The Supreme Court’s decision reflects a cautious approach toward social engineering through delegated legislation. By staying the regulations, the Court has signaled that "equity" in education must be a bridge that connects students, not a wall that separates them into categories of "protected" and "unprotected."

As the legal battle moves toward the March hearing, the focus will remain on whether the UGC can draft a framework that protects vulnerable communities without alienating or excluding the rest of the student population.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes and based on the oral observations and interim orders of the Hon'ble Supreme Court.