Petition Challenges UGC Rule on Caste Reservation

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging a rule of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The petition questions the constitutional validity of Regulation 3(c) of the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026.

The rule provides reservation benefits only to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC). It does not extend similar benefits to people from general or upper caste communities. The petitioner claims that this is unfair and discriminatory.

The plea was filed by advocate Vineet Jindal. He said the new UGC regulations, which were notified on January 13, 2026, create an unequal system. According to him, the definition of “caste-based discrimination” in the rules protects only certain communities while leaving out others.

He argued that this selective protection denies equal treatment under the law to a large section of citizens based only on their caste. The petition asks the Supreme Court to review the rule and declare it unconstitutional.