In a massive development, the Supreme Court of India on Thursday halted UGC regulations 2026 that has become a center of controversy. The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to list for hearing a plea challenging the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026.
According to the petition, the regulation restricts the scope of "caste-based discrimination" only to members of the "Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes".
Such a definition "accords legal recognition of victimhood exclusively to certain reserved categories and categorically excludes persons belonging to general or upper castes from its protective ambit, regardless of the nature, gravity, or context of discrimination suffered by them".
After the hearing, Supreme Court stayed the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, notified on January 23, 2026 which was challenged by various petitioners as being arbitrary, exclusionary, discriminatory and in violation of the Constitution as well as the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.
The apex court ordered that for now, the UGC Regulations notified in 2012 will operate.
According to Bar & Bench, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymallya observed that the provisions were unclear and could be misused.
The Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and the UGC and directed them to redraft the regulations. Chief Justice Surya Kant asked the Centre, "How much have we achieved towards a casteless society? Are we now moving in the opposite direction?"
The Bench further said that if the Court does not intervene, there will be dangerous consequences. "If we don't intervene it will lead to dangerous impact, will divide the society and will have grave impact," the Court said.
Further, the Court opined that the regulations will have to be examined by an expert committee.
"Prima Facie we say that the language of the regulation is vague and experts need to look into for the language be modulated so that it is not exploited," the Court said.