Supreme Court Stays UGC Regulations 2026; Giriraj Singh Calls It a Divider of Sanatan Values

Patna: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday imposed a stay on the UGC Regulations 2026, ordering that the earlier UGC Regulations 2012 remain in force until further notice. The apex court has issued notices to the central government and all stakeholders, with the next hearing scheduled for March 19, 2026.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh welcomed the court’s decision, describing the new UGC rules as a “divider of Sanatan values.” Posting on social media, he said:
“I sincerely thank the Honorable Supreme Court for staying the UGC regulations that divide Sanatan. This decision is significant for protecting India’s cultural unity and Sanatan traditions. The Modi government stands for ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ and the unbroken unity of Sanatan values.”

Speaking to the media, Singh further expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, emphasizing that the government has never discriminated against any community, citing initiatives like EWS reservation.

Political Reactions

• Rajiv Ranjan Prasad of JD(U) described the stay as part of the judicial process, noting that the central government will present its facts and position through affidavits.
• Congress MP Ranjit Ranjan emphasized the need for discussions to ensure no student faces caste-based discrimination, calling it a sensitive issue.
• Minister Ram Kripal Yadav stated, “Prime Minister Modi has always worked with ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’, and continues to do so.”

Student Protests in Patna

Prior to the Supreme Court’s order, students in Patna staged vigorous protests against the proposed UGC framework, disrupting traffic in central areas like Dinkar Golambar. Demonstrators, under banners of the All Bihar Students Union (ABSU) and Savarna Ekta Manch, alleged that the new rules adversely affected students from upper castes. They warned of a nationwide strike on February 1 if the government did not withdraw the bill.

Student leaders highlighted the divisive nature of the proposal:

• Vishal Kumar stated, “If we remain united, we will be safe; if divided, we will be destroyed. Politics in this cycle is leaving upper caste students helpless. The Prime Minister has been elected three times—were upper caste votes not counted? Then why this bill?”
• Suryadev Kumar called the framework divisive, saying it politically targets upper castes while promoting caste-based politics.
• Saroj Kumar questioned the intent behind the regulations, demanding their withdrawal and advocating for a fair inquiry mechanism.
• Rakesh Kumar linked the new rules to previous legal frameworks, alleging misuse against thousands of individuals and warning that upper caste students could now be unfairly targeted in universities.

The protests underscore growing student dissatisfaction with the UGC’s proposed regulations, with demonstrators insisting that the bill is discriminatory and must be immediately withdrawn.