The UGC Regulations have been challenged in a new plea filed in the Supreme Court. The petition questions why the latest rules provide quota protection only for SC, ST, and OBC categories. The plea argues that this approach ignores other groups and violates the right to equality.
The plea was filed by Vineet Jindal, who said the definition of “caste-based discrimination” in the new rules is unfair and narrow. He claimed the rules treat discrimination as a problem faced only by certain castes. According to him, this denies equal protection of law to many citizens.
The petitioner said discrimination can affect people from all social backgrounds. He argued that the government should adopt an inclusive and balanced definition instead of a caste-specific one. The plea also said the current rules create an unequal legal framework.
The UGC Regulations were introduced to prevent discrimination in higher education institutions. However, the plea raised concerns about fairness, inclusivity, and constitutional values.
The court is expected to examine whether the regulations follow the principles of equality and justice guaranteed under the Constitution. The case may have a wider impact on education policy and anti-discrimination laws in India.
