CAMPUS EQUITY RULES MUST BE SHARPENED, BUT NOT AS DEMANDED

In suspending the University Grants Commission's new regulations to promote equity in higher education institutions, the Supreme Court has halted a reform initiated by itself.

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In February 2025, a month after the top court ordered UGC to revise the 2012 rules addressing caste-based discrimination, the education regulator released a draft for public consultation. The new regulations promulgated on January 13 incorporated several suggested changes, including recognising prejudice against other backward classes and removing penalty for false complaints, which might deter students from coming forward. The need for revision was felt because neither the earlier rules nor the laws meant to prevent atrocities against members of lower castes and tribes were effective in dealing with on-campus discrimination.