Washinton - The U.S. Supreme Court has delivered a significant blow to affirmative action in university admissions by ruling against the use of race and ethnicity as factors in the admissions process. The decision, made by the court's conservative majority, has garnered praise from conservatives but faced criticism from progressives.

President Joe Biden expressed his disappointment with the ruling, emphasizing the importance of racial diversity in educational institutions. However, he rejected calls to restructure the Supreme Court. The court's decision has effectively overturned efforts to promote diversity in school admissions and hiring practices. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing the majority opinion, argued that while affirmative action had good intentions, it amounted to unconstitutional discrimination. Justice Sonia Sotomayor strongly disagreed with the ruling, stating that ignoring race would not rectify a racially unequal society.

The court's decision came in response to a lawsuit by Students for Fair Admissions against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, alleging discrimination against Asian American applicants. Affirmative action policies, stemming from the Civil Rights Movement, aimed to address historical discrimination against African Americans. Critics argue that these policies are no longer necessary due to progress made by marginalized groups. The ruling is expected to impact programs that aim to provide additional opportunities for disadvantaged minorities and could hinder universities' ability to consider factors beyond test scores in admissions decisions.