In a significant move, the Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the central government and the University Grants Commission (UGC), staying the implementation of UGC’s controversial new regulations. This decision has sparked intense political reactions, with Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey welcoming the ruling as a major setback for the government.
Speaking exclusively to reporters, Dubey praised the apex court for listening to students’ concerns that the government had ignored. He criticized the new UGC rules for introducing discriminatory provisions, particularly highlighting a clause that prevents general category students from seeking legal recourse against false accusations made by reserved category students. ‘This is deeply unjust,’ Dubey asserted, adding that such measures undermine equality before the law.
Dubey pointed out the irony in the government’s claim of eliminating discrimination while replacing perfectly functional 2012 regulations with flawed ones. ‘The Supreme Court has recognized the lack of substance in these rules and granted an immediate stay, reverting to the 2012 framework,’ he said. The next hearing is scheduled for March 19, providing much-needed relief to students and their families who feared arbitrary discrimination and legal entanglements derailing their education.
Labeling the new rules a ‘black law,’ Dubey accused the Union Education Ministry under Dharmendra Pradhan of overreach. He emphasized that true constitutional values, as envisioned by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, demand equal treatment for all. ‘We hope the court will strike down these regulations entirely,’ he concluded, urging the government to respect judicial authority and student welfare.