New Delhi, Jan 27: A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging a recently notified University Grants Commission (UGC) regulation, alleging that it adopts a narrow and exclusionary definition of caste-based discrimination, thereby denying protection to certain categories in higher education institutions.
The petition assails Regulation 3(c) of the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, contending that it limits caste-based discrimination only to members of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC). According to the plea, this restrictive definition excludes individuals from general or non-reserved categories who may also face discrimination or harassment on the basis of caste.
Filed by Vineet Jindal, the plea argues that the regulation, in its present form, creates an unconstitutional hierarchy of protection by confining institutional safeguards and grievance redressal mechanisms to select groups. It claims the provision violates Articles 14 and 15(1) of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before law and prohibit discrimination on grounds including caste.
The petition further alleges a violation of Article 21, asserting that the right to life and personal liberty includes the right to live with dignity, which extends to protection against caste-based bias for all individuals.
The plea has urged the apex court to restrain authorities from enforcing Regulation 3(c) in its current form and sought directions to redefine caste-based discrimination in a caste-neutral and constitutionally compliant manner. It has also sought interim directions to ensure that Equal Opportunity Centres, Equity Helplines and Ombudsperson mechanisms under the regulations are made accessible to all students without discrimination, pending reconsideration of the definition. (Agencies)
