Nationwide relief swept through academic circles as the Supreme Court Thursday blocked UGC’s contentious new rules. Challenged under Section 3C for constitutional infirmities in defining discrimination, the regulations met a temporary end via stay order.
The CJI Suryakant-led bench, alongside Justice Bagchi, absorbed contentions from Vishnu Shankar Jain on biased provisions: caste revelations triggering cases, adjudicated by suspect panels. Next listing fixed for March 19.
Patna’s voice, Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, pledged obedience: ‘Judicial commands guide our governance—full stop.’
BJP’s Sunil Bharala unleashed on UGC creators for caste-hostile drafts smearing savarna students, sparking pan-India fury from every stratum over draconian clauses and prejudiced oversight.
On tangential fronts, Choudhary cautioned Mamata Banerjee against exploiting Ajit Pawar’s tragedy, highlighting familial-government unity and accountability pledges. For land-for-jobs, he pushed fixed timelines and verdict compliance.
With enforcement suspended, the saga spotlights policy pitfalls, urging reforms for genuine equity in universities.