New Delhi [India], January 28 : Students, mostly belonging to the general category, staged a protest on Wednesday at Delhi University's North Campus against the newly notified University Grants Commission (UGC) equity rules, demanding their immediate withdrawal.
The protesting students claimed that the rules promote discrimination on campuses instead of equality. They pointed out that there was no binding provision for the representation of general category students.
The new regulations, introduced to curb caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, require institutions to establish special committees and helplines to address complaints, especially from students belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) categories.
The protest became tense as a large number of students gathered near the Vice-Chancellor's office, breaching the first police barricade and attempted to move closer to the administrative block. Police personnel deployed at the spot later closed the main university gate to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The protesting students alleged that the new UGC guidelines violate the principle of "educational equality" and exclude general category students from representation. They demanded that the regulations ensure equity for all sections of society.
Holding placards, the students raised slogans such as "Equity for all, not for few," "Education with justice builds a strong nation," "Kaala kanoon vaapas lo," and "Rajneeti Murdabaad". The protesters warned that if their demands are not addressed, the agitation would be intensified.
Speaking during the protest, Satvik Sharma said the students were seeking a clear rollback of the regulations. He argued that an existing system notified through a 2013 gazette already dealt with grievance redressal and questioned the lack of clarity in the new rules.
"There is no clear procedure. The definition of discrimination is vague, and the UGC should clearly list what constitutes discrimination. If there is no rollback, we will go to Parliament and the courts. This black law will not be accepted," he said.
Another protester, Akhilesh Tiwari, alleged that the guidelines were tilted in favour of specific categories and did not ensure equity. He claimed, "ambiguities and loopholes in the regulations could lead to misuse and said the movement would be taken to Parliament if necessary."
He added that the students were not opposing safeguards against discrimination but were demanding amendments to the regulations based on the principles of natural justice, alleging that the general category had been excluded from the framework.
Meanwhile, the new rules notified by the UGC on January 13, which update its 2012 regulations on the same subject, have sparked widespread criticism from general category students, who argue that the framework could lead to discrimination against them.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday sought to allay concerns over the new UGC regulations, assuring that the law would not be misused and that there would be no discrimination in its implementation.
Earlier in the day, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kalraj Mishra criticised the newly notified UGC guidelines, calling them unconstitutional and alleging that they promote separatism and caste-based discrimination instead of ensuring equal opportunity for all students.