T.V. Mohandas Pai Criticises New UGC Regulations As 'Anti-Constitution' Amid Caste Row

In this exclusive interview, T.V. Mohandas Pai, Chairman of Aarin Capital, voices strong opposition to the new University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations aimed at addressing caste discrimination. Pai describes the norms as 'draconian, anti-constitution, anti-India and must be repealed,' arguing that they unfairly label one section of society as oppressors without sufficient data. He challenges activists to provide empirical evidence of widespread systemic subjugation in higher education, citing the All India Survey of Higher Education to suggest that student representation across communities is largely proportional to their population. Pai further highlights concerns regarding the potential misuse of these regulations for filing false cases, referencing social media reports and political statements. He advocates for a neutral legal framework where 'all students will have equal protection against caste discrimination' regardless of their background, rather than singling out specific categories. The discussion also touches upon the Rohit Vemula case and the constitutional balance between Article 14 equality and reservation policies.