Supreme Court Orders UGC to Combat Discrimination
Why in the news?
The Supreme Court directed UGC to finalize anti-discrimination regulations within six weeks. Highlighting delays since 2023, the court emphasized robust implementation to address caste-based discrimination and suicides, urging universities to establish transparent mechanisms and ensure compliance with equity norms.
About the Supreme Court Directive to UGC:
- Timeline for Anti-Discrimination Regulations
- The Supreme Court has directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to notify new anti-discrimination regulations within six weeks.
- The court emphasized these norms must be actionable and effective, not just symbolic.
- Response to Delays
- The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, criticized UGC for not finalizing the norms, despite starting the process in 2023.
- UGC was instructed to submit the regulations for the court’s review along with data on related incidents and institutional compliance.
Key Issues Highlighted
- Failures in Current Mechanisms
- The 2019 petition, filed by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, sought robust reforms after their children faced caste-based discrimination and died by suicide.
- Senior advocate Indira Jaising noted a lack of Equal Opportunity Cells (EOCs) in universities and inadequate implementation of the 2012 UGC equity regulations.
- Concerning Statistics
- Alarming data revealed 15 suicides in IITs alone over the past two years, predominantly from marginalized communities.
- Many universities failed to provide concrete data on complaints or their resolution.
Court’s Instructions
- Comprehensive Framework
- The bench instructed UGC to ensure effective anti-discrimination measures, including the establishment of committees with diverse representation.
- Universities were asked to publicize their compliance and anti-discrimination policies on their websites.
- Collaboration with Other Bodies
- The court sought inputs from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and the Union Government to strengthen oversight mechanisms.
Sources Referred:
PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times