Supreme Court Stays New UGC Guidelines, Calls for Expert Review Panel
New Delhi, January 29, 2026:
In a major judicial intervention, the Supreme Court of India today stayed the implementation of the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) controversial regulatory guidelines, asserting that the rules are prone to misuse and could unjustly discriminate against students from the general category.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, along with Justice J. Bhagchi, issued the order while hearing petitions challenging the new UGC norms.
The court expressed concern that the rules, as currently framed, could violate principles of fairness and equality.
The top court directed the UGC to constitute a high-powered committee of jurists and experts to thoroughly examine all aspects of the guidelines.
According to sources, the panel will be tasked with recommending changes to ensure the rules are not susceptible to misuse and that all student categories receive equitable treatment across higher education campuses in the country.
“The objective is to ensure fairness and prevent any inadvertent discrimination,” the bench observed while passing the interim order.
The UGC guidelines had sparked widespread opposition from various sections of the general category, particularly the group calling itself the Swarna Janna category, which has been protesting vigorously.
Demonstrations were held not only outside the UGC headquarters in Delhi but also in several other cities, with students and activists terming the new regulations “totally discriminatory” against the general category.
Today’s Supreme Court stay has, at least temporarily, quelled the nationwide unrest. Leaders of the BJP-led Union government, who had faced sharp criticism from both students and party MPs, welcomed the court’s decision.
Senior officials from the Union Ministry of Education indicated that the government is prepared to comply with the Supreme Court’s directive and will soon announce the formation of the jurist committee to re-examine the rules.
Several BJP Members of Parliament had openly questioned the manner in which the guidelines were formulated, arguing that concerns of general category students were neither sufficiently considered nor adequately addressed during drafting.
With the Supreme Court’s intervention, the contentious rules will remain on hold until the expert committee completes its review and the court gives further directions.