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NEW DELHI: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the mothers of Rohit Vemula and Payal Tadvi, the Supreme Court has directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) to provide comprehensive data on caste discrimination in higher educational institutions (HEIs). The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, issued the order on Friday, emphasizing the need to examine the implementation of the UGC’s 2012 regulations aimed at promoting equity in HEIs.
The court asked the UGC to compile information from all Central, state, private, and deemed universities regarding the establishment of Equal Opportunity Cells and the total number of complaints received under the 2012 regulations. Additionally, the bench sought details of action taken on these complaints.
Acknowledging submissions by the UGC about newly formulated regulations, the court instructed the commission to officially notify and submit these updated guidelines.
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During the hearing, the bench was informed that 115 student suicides have occurred in Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) alone between 2004 and 2024. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the court committed to periodic hearings to ensure the regulations are effectively implemented.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising, representing the petitioners, criticized the UGC for failing to enforce its 2012 guidelines, which aim to eliminate caste-based discrimination in academic institutions. She further urged the court to obtain data from the Central government and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) on suicides among Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in HEIs. The bench has asked both entities to file detailed responses within four weeks.
Rohit Vemula, a Ph.D. scholar from Hyderabad Central University, died by suicide on January 17, 2016, allegedly due to caste discrimination. Similarly, Payal Tadvi, a tribal student at Mumbai’s Topiwala National Medical College, took her life on May 22, 2019, after reportedly facing caste-based harassment from peers.
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In 2019, their mothers filed a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking a robust mechanism to address caste discrimination on campuses. They highlighted the pervasive discrimination faced by SC/ST students and called for mandatory Equal Opportunity Cells in all HEIs. The petition also proposed including SC/ST representatives, NGOs, and social activists in these cells to ensure fairness and transparency.
The court’s directive marks a significant step in addressing caste-related issues in educational institutions and ensuring accountability in creating inclusive academic environments.
