The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed for urgent listing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the newly notified anti-discrimination regulations of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The plea was mentioned before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. The petitioner argued that the new regulations are discriminatory towards General Category students.

Referring to the widespread uproar over the contentious rules, the bench responded, "We are also aware of what's happening...It will be listed...You cure defects [in the PIL]".

The new regulations mandating all higher education institutions to form "equity committees" to look into discrimination complaints and promote equity were notified on January 13.

They also mandated that these committees must include members of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), the Scheduled Castes (SCs), the Scheduled Tribes (STs), persons with disabilities, and women.

The new regulations replace the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012, which was largely advisory in nature.

Amid protests by students over these regulations in many states, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan assured there would be no discrimination with anyone, and the rules would not be "misused".

Source: India Today