Fri Jan 03 15:46:21 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Orders Crackdown on Caste Discrimination in Indian Universities

**NEW DELHI** – The Supreme Court of India has directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to implement stricter measures to combat caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions across the country. The court, hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in 2019, expressed serious concern over the issue, calling it “sensitive” and highlighting the lack of progress since the 2012 UGC equity regulations were introduced.

The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, ordered the UGC to draft and publish new regulations within a month to prevent caste discrimination in central, state, private, and deemed universities. These regulations must then be open for public comment before final notification. The court also demanded data within six weeks on the number of institutions with functioning equal opportunity cells, as mandated by the 2012 regulations, along with details of complaints filed and subsequent actions taken.

The PIL, filed by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi – two students who allegedly died by suicide after facing caste-based discrimination – highlighted the alarming number of similar incidents in Indian universities. Senior advocate Indira Jaising stated that over 50 students, mostly from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) communities, had reportedly died by suicide since 2004 due to such discrimination.

The court criticized the UGC for its inaction since 2019 and expressed its intention to establish an effective mechanism to ensure the implementation of the 2012 regulations. The Solicitor General and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council have been asked to assist in this process. The court will periodically review the progress of these measures. The PIL seeks to uphold fundamental rights, including the right to equality and the right to life, and ensure that all educational institutions effectively address caste-based discrimination.

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