India’s top court has slammed the brakes on UGC’s revamped regulations against discrimination in universities, opting to uphold 2012 standards for now. Notices went out to the Centre and UGC, with arguments resuming March 19. The interim order stems from petitions decrying the new framework’s constitutional infirmities.
Vishnu Shankar Jain, arguing for challengers, zeroed in on Section 3C. He blasted its discrimination definition as constitutionally defective—limiting remedies to favored classes while sidelining universal protections. This, per Jain, distorts equality’s essence.
CJI Suryakant tested boundaries: Picture North-South student friction fueled by regional barbs, caste unknown. Jain invoked Section 3E for origin-based redress.
The hearing spotlighted glaring gaps, like dropped ragging safeguards. Advocates cautioned of backlash: Open-category rookies vilified prematurely, risking incarceration. ‘Education advancing or retreating?’ they pressed.
Reflecting on independence’s legacy, CJI Suryakant mourned enduring caste fault lines. He probed if fresh rules widen rifts. The bench critiqued vague phrasing open to abuse; Justice Bagchi dissected redundant clauses (2C vs. 2E).
Offering proactive solutions, petitioners pledged refined drafts if allowed. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta navigated the constitutional maze, yet judicial wariness prevailed. This pause reinforces the court’s role as higher education’s guardian, demanding precision over haste.