Farmer icon Rakesh Tikait has decried the UGC’s fresh regulations, foreseeing a litigation explosion even as the Supreme Court stepped in with a stay order. The development follows mounting protests against perceived threats to educational equity.
Tikait, in candid remarks to IANS, welcomed the court’s proactive stance. ‘After days of opposition, justices called for comprehensive filings to evaluate defects, revisions, or outright halt,’ he stated.
Advocating talks with aggrieved caste representatives, he warned of dire consequences. ‘Persistent divisions will balkanize the nation by caste, complicating unity against future adversities,’ Tikait prophesied.
Dismissing the rules’ impact on governance, he analogized to voter disillusionment. ‘Boycotts or NOTA choices inadvertently bolster the government, enabling pursuit of favorable policies,’ he analyzed.
Tikait charged the regime with engineering caste strife for courtroom proliferation. ‘Educated castes might abuse provisions against unlettered SCs, necessitating constitutional remedies and prolonged fights,’ he said.
Responding to petitions, the Supreme Court froze the new UGC framework on Thursday, reverting to 2012 provisions pending March 19 arguments. The verdict amplifies debates on balancing innovation in higher education with social justice imperatives.