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'Contemplating to appoint a committee': Centre to SC on UGC's equity rules

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a Supreme Court bench that the government is evaluating student grievances to ensure no demographic feels alienated by the regulatory framework. These contested provisions were previously frozen by the court after it identified substantial flaws that risked societal division. Consequently, the judiciary exercised its constitutional powers under Article 142 to reinstate the 2012 anti-discrimination guidelines until ongoing disputes are resolved. Both the government and the regulatory body must still submit formal replies to multiple legal challenges.

Key points

  • The central government is actively considering an expert panel to address widespread stud…: The central government is actively considering an expert panel to address widespread student dissatisfaction regarding the higher education rules.
  • Higher educational institutions will continue to be governed by the 2012 anti-discriminat…: Higher educational institutions will continue to be governed by the 2012 anti-discrimination regulations while legal proceedings remain ongoing.
  • The Centre and the University Grants Commission are required to file formal responses to…: The Centre and the University Grants Commission are required to file formal responses to three petitions contesting the new rules.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it is considering constituting a committee to revisit the University Grants Commission's (UGC) notified rules introduced to prevent caste discrimination in educational institutions, Bar and Bench reported.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that the Centre is examining the issue to address students' concerns and ensure that no section feels dissatisfied or apprehensive."The government has taken a decision that every student should be taken care of. Nobody should have any apprehension. Nobody should feel dissatisfied. We are also considering the interests of the younger generation. The government is contemplating appointing a committee," SG Mehta told the apex court.This comes as the apex court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the UGC regulations.The 2026 regulations had already been kept in abeyance by the top court on January 29.

At the time, the court said the provisions were "prima facie vague" and could have "very sweeping consequences", warning that they could potentially divide society and have a "dangerous impact".

The court…

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