After SC Stay On UGC Equity Regulations, MP High Court To Examine Circular Excluding General Category Students From Discrimination Complaints

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed Students Grievances Redressal Committee to consider discrimination complaints from students from all categories including the General category. The direction was passed in a petition challenging a February 2 Circular issued by the State Government, excluding the general category students from raising dispute on the ground of discrimination before the Committee. The division bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf directed; "...the Students Grievances Redressal Committee shall entertain complaints of all categories of students including the general category, if received, on the ground of discrimination, in accordance with law".The counsel for the petitioner student Amber Sharma, argued that Clause 3(c) of the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 defined caste-based discrimination as only based on caste or tribe against members of the Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribes and Other Backwards Classes (OBC). The counsel for the petitioner, relying on the case of Mritunjay Tiwari vs. Union of India, asserted that clause 3(c) of the Regulations of 2026 is based on an unfounded presumption that caste discrimination is a "unique arrangement and can never operate against persons of non-reserved and general category". For context, the Supreme Court, in the Mritunjay Tiwari case, drafted four substantial questions of law in the petitions challenging the constitutionality of the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026. The Supreme Court further noted that the Regulations suffered from ambiguities and could possibly be misused.The counsel argued that three days after the Supreme Court kept in abeyance the said impugned Regulations of 2026, the State issued the impugned circular, which deals with complaints on discrimination filed by Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, Other Backwards Classes (OBC), women, minority and PWD candidates only. The regulations in brief exclude the non-reserved and general categories. The bench, after recording the submission, issued notice to the Union of India and the State. The case is scheduled to be listed after six weeks, on June 15, 2026. Case Title: Amber Sharma v Union of India, WP-5676-2026For Petitioner: Advocate Harshwardhan SharmaFor Union: Additional Solicitor General Dr Ajnkya DagaonkarFor State: Government Advocate Pradyumna KibeClick here to read/download the Order

After SC Stay On UGC Equity Regulations, MP High Court To Examine Circular Excluding General Category Students From Discrimination Complaints

Jayanti Pahwa

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