New Delhi, Jan 27 (NationPress) Amid ongoing protests against the University Grants Commission (UGC) Bill, 2026, numerous Hindu spiritual leaders have declared that the proposed legislation should be repealed without delay. They outlined various potential harms that may result from implementing this Bill.

In an interview with IANS, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Shankaracharya condemned the initiative, stating, “No caste is inherently unjust; it is the actions of individuals that lead to injustice. Each caste comprises both virtuous and faulty individuals. Labeling a whole caste as just or unjust is misguided and could inflict significant damage on Hinduism. Thus, this law must be revoked immediately.”

Jagadguru Paramhans Acharya also voiced strong dissent against the new legislation.

“We have sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the retraction of the new UGC regulations. We have requested either the withdrawal of these UGC rules or the approval for euthanasia for me,” he stated.

He further elaborated, “In our view, these regulations will lead approximately 35 percent of girls from the general category into exploitative situations. If false accusations are made, the careers of general category students will be irreparably harmed, while the accusers face no consequences. This could instigate caste-related conflicts. You have consistently stated that division leads to devastation, while unity provides safety. However, the new UGC regulations will divide and harm Hindus.”

Paramhans Acharya also suggested that the regulations could have political ramifications.

“If this situation persists, the BJP could face total annihilation in this country. As supporters of the BJP, I have reached out to the Prime Minister, advocating for the withdrawal of these regulations, as I cannot stand by and witness the party's decline,” he remarked.

Simultaneously, the University Grants Commission has rolled out the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, aimed at combating caste-based discrimination and enhancing inclusivity in higher education institutions across India.

As per the new guidelines, universities and colleges are mandated to establish Equal Opportunity Centres, Equity Committees, grievance redressal mechanisms, and 24/7 helplines to address complaints from students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC).

The UGC asserts that these initiatives are essential for fostering safer and more equitable learning environments and for upholding the constitutional principles of social justice and equality.

While the objectives behind these regulations have received broad acknowledgment, they have also faced backlash from students, educators, academics, and political figures. Critics have denounced the rules as vague and biased.

Detractors argue that the framework lacks clear procedural safeguards and does not provide adequate verification mechanisms for complaints, leading to potential misuse. They caution that such deficiencies could heighten campus tensions and compromise institutional autonomy.

A Public Interest Litigation has also been initiated to contest the regulations, asserting that they may infringe upon constitutional principles of fairness and equality.