The celebrations followed a Supreme Court order staying the UGC’s revised rules, notified on January 13, until further directions. A bench headed by Chief Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymalya passed the interim order while hearing petitions that challenged the new provisions as discriminatory against general category students.
Office-bearers and members of various Savarna organisations gathered in central Indore on Thursday evening, expressing gratitude to the judiciary for intervening in what they termed a “sensitive and far-reaching” policy issue. According to participants, the court’s decision has provided reassurance to families concerned about the potential impact of the rules on higher education admissions and academic opportunities.
Speaking at the gathering, Savarna Samaj representative Vikas Awasthi said the stayed rules could have disturbed social harmony if implemented in their present form. He argued that certain provisions might negatively affect students’ futures and deepen divisions within universities and urban society. The Supreme Court’s intervention, he said, had restored confidence among the Savarna community.
Awasthi also claimed that opposition to the rules was not limited to one section of society. “Several sensible members from SC-ST communities also understand that excessive caste-based divisions, especially in cities and universities, can weaken social cohesion,” he said, adding that the court’s decision had strengthened a sense of broader social unity.
The Supreme Court, during the hearing, observed that some clauses of the new UGC rules lacked clarity and were open to misuse. Taking note of these concerns, the bench issued notices to the Centre and the UGC, seeking their responses. The court also directed that the draft rules be revisited and redrafted.
Importantly, the apex court clarified that the 2012 UGC regulations will continue to remain in force until further orders, ensuring that the existing admission and regulatory framework remains unchanged for now.
The petitions before the court were filed by advocate Mrityunjay Tiwari, advocate Vineet Jindal, and Rahul Diwan, who contended that the revised rules unfairly disadvantage general category students. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for March 19.
