The Supreme Court delivered a body blow to the government’s education reforms Thursday, issuing notices and staying UGC’s new regulations on discrimination prevention. Political tempers are flaring, and Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey has led the charge, hailing the decision as a welcome rebuke to the Centre.
Dubey, in detailed remarks, lauded the court for amplifying student voices neglected by authorities. He tore into the rules’ core flaw: a one-sided provision allowing reserved category accusations against general students without fear of reprisal if proven false. ‘This isn’t justice; it’s favoritism disguised as reform,’ he charged.
Why tamper with the robust 2012 rules? Dubey asked, arguing the new version invites courtroom dismissals due to evidentiary weaknesses—a point the Supreme Court evidently agreed with by enforcing the stay effective immediately. Relief swept through campuses as the March 19 date loomed, easing fears of biased enforcement disrupting academic lives.
Terming it a ‘dark law’ and a slap to Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Dubey invoked constitutional equality. ‘We revere Ambedkar’s Constitution; the government seems bent on undermining it,’ he said. As hearings progress, this case could redefine UGC’s regulatory powers and reaffirm judicial oversight in education.