Breaking: Supreme Court intervenes in UGC’s latest policy push, halting new anti-discrimination rules that sparked nationwide debate. Chief Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi’s bench issued notices and a stay order, reverting to 2012 guidelines until March 19. This move addresses fears that the fresh norms contradict core constitutional values.
Senior lawyer Vishnu Shankar Jain led the charge, targeting Section 3C’s narrow discrimination scope. ‘The Constitution speaks for all Indians,’ he asserted, slamming the rules for cherry-picking protected groups and ignoring broader equality mandates. Such flaws, he said, betray India’s foundational ethos.
Hypotheticals flew in court. CJI Suryakant envisioned cross-regional student clashes sans caste info: derogatory slurs based on origins. Jain reassured via Section 3E’s birthplace provisions.
Critics decried the axing of ragging rules, arguing it hampers progress. One counsel dramatized: A general category fresher branded criminal instantly, hurtling to jail. This, they claimed, regresses campus safety.
The Chief Justice’s stark remark resonated: 75 years on, caste clings stubbornly. ‘Is this law pulling us back?’ he wondered aloud. Concerns mounted over exploitable language, with Justice Bagchi questioning Section 2C’s role alongside 2E.
Petitioners urged scrapping the rules outright, volunteering balanced replacements. Solicitor General Mehta termed it constitutional turf, but the bench prioritized misuse prevention. The stay buys time for thorough scrutiny, protecting diverse student bodies from flawed policies.