Supreme Court Stays New UGC Equity Guidelines; Issues Notice To Centre And UGC

On this report, the focus is on the Supreme Court of India's significant decision to stay the University Grants Commission's (UGC) new equity guidelines. The bench, including the Chief Justice of India, Justice Suryakant, and Justice Joy Malia Bagchi, observed that the new regulations are 'capable of dividing society' and could have a 'grave impact' on national unity. The court questioned the inclusion of separate clauses for discrimination and expressed concern over whether the country is 'losing the gains towards classless society' made over 75 years. Until further orders, the 2012 guidelines will remain in force. The Centre and the UGC have been asked to respond to petitions filed by various groups, including the savarna classes represented by Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who argue the norms discriminate against the general category. The matter is scheduled for its next hearing on March 19th.