Lucknow

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) new equity regulations, calling it “appropriate” in view of rising social tensions on campuses.

In a post on X, she said the UGC should have consulted all stakeholders and ensured fair representation for the general category before implementing the rules.

“The UGC’s new regulations to prevent caste-based incidents in government and private universities have created an atmosphere of social tension. Considering the current situation, the Supreme Court’s stay is appropriate,” Mayawati said.

She added that the unrest could have been avoided if natural justice had been followed, including representation for upper-caste students in committees formed under the regulations.

The 2026 UGC regulations, challenged as arbitrary, exclusionary, and violative of the Constitution, mandate universities to set up committees and helplines for SC, ST, and OBC students to address caste-related complaints.

Students from the general category protested, arguing the rules ignore safeguards against fraudulent complaints and promote discrimination rather than equality.

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For now, the Supreme Court directed that the 2012 UGC regulations remain in force, citing vagueness in key provisions and potential for misuse.