The Centre on Thursday (November 5, 2026) informed the Supreme Court that it is setting up a special committee to re-examine the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) 2026 regulations aimed at promoting equity in higher education institutions.
The 2019 petition was filed by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, who died by suicide after allegedly facing caste discrimination on campuses. It sought stronger safeguards against such discrimination in higher education institutions.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was told by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the government was examining ways to address the concerns of students and ensure that no section of the student community feels excluded, threatened or apprehensive under the regulatory framework. He said the concerns, welfare and well-being of the younger generation should remain at the centre of the deliberations. Key concerns centred on the definition of “caste-based discrimination” under Regulation 3(1)(c), which focused on unfair treatment directed at members of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes. Petitioners from general categories said the framework was exclusionary and could promote discrimination against non-reserved students, while others defended the need for targeted protection.
