New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) newly notified Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026.
While hearing a batch of petitions challenging UGC’s new regulations, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the provisions are prima facie vague and capable of misuse. “There are 4-5 questions which arise for consideration. Otherwise, this will have very sweeping consequences. It will divide the society. It will lead to so many…very dangerous impact,” said CJI Kant.
Notices have been issued to the Centre and the UGC on the pleas challenging the regulation. “Meanwhile, the 2026 Regulations be kept in abeyance. In exercise of our powers under Article 142, we further direct that the 2012 Regulations will continue in force till further orders,” the court said.
The new UGC regulations, notified on January 23 with a structured framework for grievance redressal, inclusion, and support for disadvantaged groups across universities and colleges, saw widespread protests with a section of people claiming that these can lead to “harassment” of general category students. BJP office bearers in Uttar Pradesh and the Bareilly City Magistrate also resigned in protest.
“Today, the Supreme Court heard our writ petition challenging the UGC Regulations which have been enacted recently. The Supreme Court has stayed the UGC Regulations and has kept them in abeyance. The Supreme Court has directed that UGC Regulations 2012 will be in operation till further orders. The matter has been posted for hearing on March 19,” advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, counsel of a petitioner, told the media.
