Ashhar Alam | New Delhi

BJP Rajya Sabha MP and Chairman of the Bar Council of India, Manan Kumar Mishra, has raised strong objections to the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) newly notified regulations aimed at addressing caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions, warning that the move could turn campuses into “centres of controversy”.

In comments to ANI on Tuesday, Mishra cautioned that the framework could have unintended consequences for students. He argued that even minor disputes on campuses could escalate into formal complaints, potentially derailing academic careers.

“It is not healthy to drag educational institutions into avoidable controversies,” Mishra said, adding that the country already has stringent laws to deal with issues such as ragging. “What concerns me is that after these regulations, campuses may become hotspots of disputes. Even a petty altercation could lead to a complaint and ruin someone’s future.”

The Bar Council chairman urged the UGC to reconsider the regulations and called on the government to review their implications. He stressed that students from all backgrounds come to educational institutions with the primary purpose of learning and should not be exposed to mechanisms that could be misused.

UGC Building, New Delhi

Mishra’s remarks come in the wake of the UGC’s notification on January 13, which revised its 2012 guidelines on preventing caste-based discrimination. The updated rules mandate the creation of dedicated committees and helplines in colleges and universities to address grievances, particularly from students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.

The move has triggered criticism from sections of general category students, who fear that the regulations could be applied in a manner that leads to reverse discrimination.

Responding to the concerns, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan sought to reassure stakeholders, asserting that the regulations would be implemented fairly. “I assure everyone that there will be no discrimination and no one will be allowed to misuse the law,” Pradhan told reporters.

The debate over the new UGC norms continues, with differing views emerging on how best to balance protections against discrimination while ensuring a harmonious academic environment.