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The draft regulations of 2025 broaden the meaning of discrimination and provide for stricter enforcement. They would still require clarity and coverage about anti-reservation bias in universities.
Introduction of “Caste-Based Discrimination”
- This has reference to the discrimination that is exclusively targeted towards members of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
- A more general definition of “discrimination” would include unfair treatment, differential treatment or bias against one religion rather than another, on grounds of race, caste, sex or place of birth.
Broader Scope Than Under 2012 Regulations
- Definition of discrimination in 2012 was ‘distinction, exclusion, limitation or preference’ affecting equality of treatment, while this draft extends the extended protection to all “stakeholders” and not just students.
Regulatory framework & compliance
- Equity Committee
- Complaints of discrimination would be addressed by the equal opportunity centres.
- It would comprise civil society representatives, students, faculty and head of institution.
- Also, UGC shall be empowered to derecognise institutions.
- Issues and Missing Links
- “False Complaints” Clause: It would impose penalties and disciplinary action for false complaints but without defining the term false complaint.
- No Mention of Anti-Reservation Bias:
- Activists and student groups talk of discrimination relating to exam ranks and reservation status, but that’s not an issue in the draft.
Next Steps
- Public consultation
- The draft has been open for public feedback until March 28, 2025, by the UGC.
- Supreme Court oversight
- Drafting of these regulations was an outcome of petitions challenging caste discrimination cases, and the said draft has been presented to the SC for review.
UGC Regulations, 2025
Source: The Hindu
