Students stage protest against the new UGC regulations in Lucknow (PTI)

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to list for hearing a plea challenging the recently notified University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations on equity in higher education, which have been criticised for adopting a non-inclusionary definition of caste-based discrimination. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi took note of submissions made by a lawyer seeking an urgent hearing in the matter. “There is a possibility of discrimination against the general class. My case is ‘Rahul Dewan and Ors vs Union’,” the lawyer told the court. Responding to this, the Chief Justice said, “We know what is happening. Make sure defects are cured. We will list it.” The challenge pertains to the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, notified on January 13. The new regulations mandate all higher education institutions to constitute “equity committees” to examine complaints of discrimination and promote equity on campuses. Under the regulations, these equity committees must include members from the Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), persons with disabilities, and women. The 2026 regulations replace the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012, which were largely advisory in nature. The plea assails the regulations on the ground that caste-based discrimination has been defined strictly as discrimination against members of the SC, ST and OBC categories. It argues that by limiting the scope in this manner, the UGC has effectively denied institutional protection and grievance redressal to individuals belonging to the general or non-reserved categories who may also face harassment or bias based on their caste identity. Meanwhile, protests have been reported from various places against the new regulations, with student groups and organisations demanding their immediate rollback.