BSP supremo Mayawati Backs Supreme Court stay on UGC Equity Regulations 2026

Supreme Court Stays UGC Equity Rules, Flags Vagueness and Misuse Risk

The Supreme Court has issued a stay on the University Grants Commission's (UGC) Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, citing concerns over their vagueness and potential for misuse.

Key Points:

• The Supreme Court bench led by CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notices to the Centre and UGC, reverting to 2012 rules.
• The court questioned the safeguards and omissions in the new rules, including the lack of provisions against ragging.
• CJI Surya Kant expressed concern over the potential regression of India's casteless society vision after 75 years.
• The court suggested revising the rules with the input of eminent jurists.
• The stay on the UGC equity rules was welcomed by BSP supremo Mayawati, who hailed it as "appropriate" amid "social tension".

Background:

The UGC equity rules were introduced to prevent casteist incidents in government and private universities, following a 2019 PIL by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, who had committed suicide.

The new rules mandated equity committees in higher education institutions with representatives from Scheduled caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC), Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and women, for handling discrimination complaints.

Reaction from BSP Supremo:

BSP supremo Mayawati took to social media platform X to express her views on the stay on the UGC equity rules, saying:

“The new rules implemented by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to prevent casteist incidents in the country's government and private universities have created an atmosphere of social tension. Keeping in view such current circumstances, the decision today by the Hon'ble Supreme Court to stay the UGC's new rules is appropriate.”

Mayawati also emphasized the importance of consulting all stakeholders beforehand and ensuring fair upper-caste representation on investigation committees, in line with natural justice principles.