The Supreme Court has paused the implementation of the University Grants Commission (UGC)’s fresh norms on equity regulations in higher educational institutions. This move has been praised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as an anticipated ruling. Nishikant Dubey, a BJP MP, expressed contentment with the Apex Court’s decision on the UGC regulations.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan recently reassured protesting students, emphasizing that the new regulations aimed at fostering equality in campuses without fostering caste divisions. The Supreme Court, in its interim order, suspended the UGC’s Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, citing them as vague and susceptible to misuse.
During the proceedings, the bench led by CJI Surya Kant raised concerns about the potential negative impacts of the new regulations. The court highlighted the risk of societal division and grave repercussions if left unchecked. The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for March 19.
Lawmaker Nishikant Dubey, while welcoming the Supreme Court’s interim order, called for trust in the Modi government. He credited PM Modi’s leadership for providing 10% reservation to the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in the General category. Dubey criticized the opposition for not engaging in discussions despite their objections to the equity regulations.
