Supreme Court Stays UGC's 'Controversial' New Equality Regulation Amid Protests

• The Supreme Court has stayed the University Grants Commission's (UGC) new equality regulation following nationwide protests by general category students.
• Chief Justice Surya Kant questioned if India is 'moving backward' after 75 years of independence, expressing concern about increasing caste discrimination.
• The Chief Justice highlighted the vague wording of the new regulation, suggesting it needs expert review and could be misused.
• Concerns were raised about the potential for misuse of the regulation, leading to false accusations against general category students and teachers.
• The court instructed colleges and universities to adhere to the 2012 UGC regulations, with the next hearing scheduled for March 19.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court halts UGC's new equality regulation, citing concerns over vagueness and potential misuse.