Why Supreme Court Stayed UGC’s New Rules

Top court flags misuse fears, caste bias concerns; 2012 regulations to continue

January 30, 2026: The Supreme Court has stayed the implementation of the UGC’s new regulations, raising serious concerns over their language, potential misuse and the risk of deepening caste-based divisions. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant directed the University Grants Commission and the central government to file their responses, observing that the new rules could exclude general category students and disturb social balance. The court clarified that the 2012 UGC regulations will remain in force until further orders, and the matter will be examined in detail on March 19.

The stay order triggered sharp reactions across the country. Members of the general category community celebrated the decision in several cities, including Ayodhya, where sweets were distributed. In contrast, students at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University staged protests against the stay, burning an effigy to oppose what they described as dilution of protections against caste discrimination. Political reactions were also divided, with BJP leaders welcoming the court’s intervention, while some student bodies and social groups demanded the reinstatement of the new rules.

The controversy stems from provisions in the new regulations that expanded protections for SC, ST and OBC students but did not explicitly extend similar safeguards to general category students. Critics also flagged mandatory punitive measures and sweeping investigative powers given to internal committees as problematic. The Supreme Court indicated that it may consider constituting an expert committee to address ambiguities and ensure the framework protects against discrimination without enabling misuse, while upholding equality for all students.