The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea challenging the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant assured the petitioner’s counsel that the case would be listed for hearing after addressing the petition’s defects. The plea raises concerns about potential discrimination against individuals in the general category and the lack of effective grievance redressal mechanisms for them.
CJI Kant acknowledged the issue, stating, “We know what’s happening. Make sure defects are cured. We will list it.” The plea contends that the UGC’s Equity Regulations could institutionalize discrimination by excluding grievance redressal mechanisms for individuals not belonging to SC/ST/OBC categories. It argues that these regulations violate principles of equality and fair access to remedies in higher education institutions.
The petition highlights that the regulations limit “caste-based discrimination” to specific reserved categories, excluding persons from general or upper castes regardless of the discrimination they face. It seeks direction to ensure that grievance redressal mechanisms are available in a non-discriminatory and caste-neutral manner. The petition asserts that denying access to such mechanisms based on caste identity constitutes impermissible state discrimination and violates constitutional articles.
