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Context:

The Union government has informed the Supreme Court about draft regulations that aim to empower the University Grants Commission (UGC) to penalize universities that fail to address discrimination.

Background of the Case

The mothers of Rohith Vemula (a Hyderabad Central University PhD scholar who died in 2016) and Payal Tadvi (a tribal medical student who died in 2019) filed a petition in 2019, represented by senior advocate Indira Jaising. They urged the Supreme Court to act against "rampant" caste discrimination in universities.

On January 3, 2025, the Supreme Court ordered the UGC to draft new regulations within six weeks to combat discrimination and prevent suicides among marginalized students.

Key Provisions of the Draft UGC Regulations (2025)

The University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2025 aim to eliminate discrimination based on religion, race, sex, place of birth, or caste.

Key features include:

Equal Opportunity Centres (EOCs): Mandatory for all HEIs to oversee anti-discrimination policies and provide support to marginalized students.
Equity Committees: 10-member panels in HEIs, including civil society representatives, students, and faculty. At least one member must be a woman, and one each from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
Equity Squads and Ambassadors: Mobile teams to monitor campuses and report discrimination, with ambassadors appointed in departments, hostels, and facilities.
24/7 Equity Helpline: A confidential hotline for reporting discrimination, with serious cases referred to police.
Penalties for Non-Compliance: Non-compliant institutions risk derecognition, exclusion from UGC schemes, and restrictions on degree programs. The UGC can also invoke Section 12B to prohibit funding.

Compliance Issues

● Low Compliance with 2012 Regulations: Only 3067 EOCs and 3273 SC/ST Cells were established across 45 central universities, 293 state universities, 269 private universities, 103 deemed universities, and 2812 colleges. Of 1503 caste discrimination complaints, 1426 were resolved.

● Data Gaps: 40% of universities and 80% of colleges did not respond to UGC’s request for compliance data. Institutions like IITs, IIMs, and national law schools failed to submit information.

Challenges and Criticisms

Implementation Concerns: Critics argue the regulations lack funding mechanisms for EOCs and may create bureaucratic burdens for HEIs.

Risk of False Complaints: The draft includes penalties for false complaints but does not define them clearly, potentially discouraging genuine victims.

Mental Health Gaps: The regulations do not mandate counseling services, despite rising suicides linked to discrimination.

Way Forward

The UGC’s 2025 draft regulations mark a significant step toward addressing systemic discrimination in universities. While they empower the UGC with enforcement tools, challenges around implementation, funding, and student representation remain.

Must Read Articles:

CASTE-BASED DISCRIMINATION

CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN PRISONS

Source:

The Hindu

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Discuss the role of political parties in addressing or exploiting caste identities for electoral gains. Is caste-based politics a barrier to social justice? 250 words

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