Supreme Court Pledges Action to Address Caste-Based Discrimination in Higher Education

The court calls for stronger regulations and a robust mechanism following reports of 18 student suicides in elite institutions over 14 months.

The Supreme Court has committed to creating a robust mechanism to tackle caste-based discrimination in higher education institutions like IITs and IIMs.
A public interest litigation highlighted 18 student suicides in the past 14 months, with allegations of caste-based discrimination as a contributing factor.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has drafted new regulations aimed at promoting equity and inclusion, with public feedback open until March 28, 2025.
Petitioners, including the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, called for stronger enforcement of anti-discrimination measures, citing inadequate implementation of existing rules.
The court emphasized the need to empower the UGC with punitive authority to enforce compliance and scheduled the next hearing in eight weeks to review progress.