The Supreme Court of India has stayed the implementation of fresh University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines designed to combat caste-based discrimination in higher education, voicing strong concerns over vague language that could foster segregation on campuses. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant issued notices to the Centre and UGC while hearing petitions linked to past student suicides, directing a high-level panel to refine the rules for true inclusivity. The January 13 regulations mandated "equity committees" in every institution to handle grievances from OBC, SC, ST, disabled students, and women—but notably excluded general-category peers.

"We hope we don't segregate schools like the US, where blacks and whites went to different schools," CJI Kant remarked, drawing a stark parallel to America's pre-1954 segregation era. He questioned the drift toward division: "Are we becoming a regressive society after 75 years of Independence? Can't go further backwards."

The bench highlighted risky provisions for "transparent" arrangements in hostels and mess halls, warning of misuse by "mischievous elements." "For god's sake! There are inter-caste marriages now," the CJI added, urging a push for a casteless society that safeguards everyone, including North-East or Southern students facing cultural bias or ragging.

The stay stems from pleas citing deaths like Rohith Vemula (2016) and Payal Tadvi (2019), where alleged caste discrimination in hostels played a role. Critics called the rules lopsided and prone to abuse, echoing broader affirmative action debates—some states already subdivide SC quotas due to uneven benefits within groups.

Institutions must now pause forming these committees, buying time for revisions. This ruling underscores a delicate balance: rooting out bias without new fault lines. As one observer noted, diverse shared spaces like hostels can forge unity if handled thoughtfully—history's lessons from divided US schools make the stakes clear.