NEW DELHI,11 Feb 2026 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Central Government and the University Grants Commission (UGC) on two fresh petitions challenging the recently notified UGC regulations 2026. The bench directed that these new petitions be clubbed with the earlier petitions, and all matters will be heard together.
The fresh petitions contend that the new rules discriminate against the general category and violate their fundamental rights. Earlier, the top court had issued notices to the Centre and UGC and stayed the implementation of the regulations. During the proceedings, the court also suggested the constitution of a committee to reconsider the provisions of the UGC rules. A hearing date for the combined petitions will be scheduled shortly.
The UGC regulations 2026, which mandated all universities and colleges in the country to establish an Equal Opportunity Centre (EOC) and campus-level committees to inquire into discrimination complaints and promote equity and inclusion, have been put on hold amid widespread protests, especially from general category students. The bench flagged “complete vagueness” in the rules that makes them prone to misuse.
During the hearing, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant had highlighted the persistence of caste-based discrimination even 75 years after independence.
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