Amid Supreme Court intervention halting UGC’s latest directives, Rakesh Tikait, the vocal farmer leader, predicts an era of heightened lawsuits and caste discord plaguing India’s education sector.
Detailing the sequence to IANS, Tikait noted, ‘Three days of fierce resistance led to judicial cognizance, with orders for document submission to probe issues and potential fixes or blockade.’
He called for inclusive deliberations with impacted groups. ‘Unchecked caste tussles threaten to divide the country irreparably, hindering solidarity in national emergencies,’ Tikait cautioned.
The leader argued the reforms pose no risk to authorities. ‘Protests via vote skips or NOTA merely empower rulers to advance their interests unopposed,’ he remarked insightfully.
Blaming governmental tactics for caste schisms, Tikait highlighted exploitation risks. ‘Prowess in literacy allows some castes to weaponize rules against SCs, demanding adherence to constitutional fairness through courts,’ he affirmed.
The top court, on Thursday, granted a stay on the challenged UGC rules after hearings, enforcing 2012 norms until March 19. This pause reflects broader anxieties over reforms undermining reservation policies in universities.