Did BJP Support the SC's Decision to Halt UGC's New Equity Regulations?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Jan 29 (NationPress) The Supreme Court's ruling to suspend the enforcement of the University Grants Commission (UGC)'s newly proposed equity regulations in higher education institutions has been positively received by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who described the decision as “expected”.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey from Godda, Jharkhand, expressed his approval on X, emphasizing the court's decision aligns with his earlier statements regarding the UGC regulations and reiterated the government's commitment to maintaining an “impartial and unbiased” approach.
In a post on X, he stated, “The Supreme Court has validated my assertions.”
Meanwhile, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the anxieties of protesting students, particularly from the General Category, assuring that there would be no bias or marginalization. He clarified that the regulations were designed to foster “equality” on campuses, countering claims of fostering caste divisions.
The Supreme Court's interim order, issued last Thursday, has suspended the UGC’s (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, while a notice has been sent to the Centre. The 2012 regulations will remain in effect until further notice. The court pointed out that the new regulations were “vague and susceptible to misuse”.
During the proceedings, the Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, raised concerns about the potential societal implications of the regulations, warning, “Failure to intervene could lead to a dangerous societal divide and severe repercussions.”
The next hearing is scheduled for March 19.
In light of the SC's interim order, Dubey also appealed for trust in the Modi government, highlighting that it was under PM Modi's guidance that the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in the General Category was granted a 10% reservation to protect their rights.
He criticized the opposition, noting that amidst the uproar over the equity regulations, no political party has prioritized a discussion on the matter.