New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday put an interim stay on the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines framed to promote equality in higher education institutions, citing apparent ambiguity and the risk of misuse. The apex court observed that, at first glance, the provisions lacked clarity and could potentially be interpreted in a manner that defeats their intended purpose.
A Bench headed by the Chief Justice issued notice to the Central government, asking it to respond and clearly explain the scope and intent of the guidelines. Emphasizing the larger role of educational spaces, the court remarked that university campuses must remain places that reflect the unity and integrity of the nation, rather than becoming arenas for division or political confrontation.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice cautioned against allowing the issue to be politicised, stating that sensitive matters related to education and equality should not be turned into tools for creating unnecessary conflict. The court stressed the need for balanced and unambiguous rules that uphold fairness without opening doors to selective or biased application.
The petition challenging the UGC guidelines will be taken up for further hearing on March 19. Until then, the implementation of the guidelines will remain on hold.
Notably, the contested guidelines had originally been framed following earlier directions from the Supreme Court itself. However, after their notification, several student groups and organizations raised objections, alleging that the provisions were discriminatory and could adversely affect certain sections of the student community.
The interim stay signals the court’s intent to closely examine whether the guidelines genuinely serve the principle of equality in higher education or whether they require refinement to prevent misinterpretation and social discord.