The Supreme Court of India, on Thursday, permitted the University Grants Commission (UGC) to notify its drafted 2025 regulations addressing ragging, sexual harassment, and various forms of discrimination in higher education institutions. The decision was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, referencing a prior verdict from March 24, which highlighted the troubling trend of student suicides linked to such abuses.
These comprehensive regulations aim to fortify the legal framework against caste, gender, and disability discrimination among other biases, offering a more robust protection mechanism for students. “In light of the significant issues at hand, it is appropriate for the UGC to finalize and notify the draft regulations 2025,” the bench stated during the proceedings.
The regulations are set to build on existing measures while incorporating the National Task Force’s (NTF) recommendations on mental health, specifically tailored to prevent distress and suicides among students.
The bench was adjudicating a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which argued for the inclusion of public suggestions into the UGC’s regulations pending the NTF’s review. “Such suggestions are crucial and will be considered diligently,” the court assured.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, representing the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi—students whose suicides have been attributed to severe caste-based discrimination—critiqued the UGC for diluting specific guidelines in its new draft. Vemula and Tadvi’s cases have been pivotal in highlighting systemic issues in academic institutions.
Jaising’s arguments led to a spirited exchange with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represented the Centre and the UGC. Mehta urged the bench not to disrupt the ongoing efforts of the NTF, chaired by former Supreme Court Justice S Ravindra Bhat, asserting that the task force’s findings should be awaited before making further amendments.
