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Showing posts with the label Higher Education

Supreme Court to Examine UGC’s 2026 Equity Regulations: Legal Gaps, Constitutional Concerns and the Future of Anti-Discrimination Framework in Higher Education

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Introduction The Supreme Court’s decision to list for hearing a plea challenging the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 has reopened a critical debate on how caste-based discrimination is defined, addressed, and remedied in Indian higher education institutions (HEIs). The challenge, filed in Rahul Dewan and Ors. v. Union of India , raises fundamental constitutional questions: Can anti-discrimination regulations selectively protect certain caste groups while excluding others? And can regulatory dilution be justified in the name of administrative flexibility? Background of the Supreme Court Proceedings While agreeing to list the matter, the Chief Justice of India observed that defects in the petition must be cured before formal listing. The petitioner’s core grievance is that the 2026 Regulations create a narrow and exclusionary framework for caste-based discrimination by limiting its scope primarily to Scheduled Cast...

Delhi High Court: No Law Student Can Be Barred from Exams for Lack of Attendance

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In a landmark ruling that addresses the mental health and academic rights of students, the Delhi High Court has held that no law student across India can be prevented from appearing for examinations on the ground of attendance shortage. The decision comes nearly nine years after the tragic death of Sushant Rohilla , a law student who died by suicide in 2016 after being barred from sitting for his semester exams due to insufficient attendance. Background: The Sushant Rohilla Case and Judicial Intervention In August 2016 , Sushant Rohilla , a third-year law student at Amity Law School, Delhi , took his own life after being denied permission to sit for his semester exams. His death raised serious questions about the rigidity of attendance norms and their impact on students’ mental health. Following the incident, a suo motu petition was initiated by the Supreme Court of India in September 2016 to examine the broader issue of attendance-related restrictions in law colleges. In March...

Who is Chaitanyananda Saraswati? The Self-Styled Godman Accused of Sexual Harassment

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The case of Chaitanyananda Saraswati , also known as Dr Parthasarathy , has once again brought attention to allegations of misconduct by self-styled godmen in India. The 62-year-old monk-turned-educator is accused of sexually harassing students at a Delhi-based management institute and is currently absconding, with a Lookout Circular (LOC) issued against him. The Allegations Against Chaitanyananda Saraswati On August 4, 2025 , the administrator of Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management (Vasant Kunj, Delhi) filed a complaint against Chaitanyananda Saraswati. Following the complaint, police recorded the statements of 32 students , out of which 17 students accused him of: Sending obscene WhatsApp messages . Using abusive and derogatory language . Making unwanted physical contact . Threatening students with academic failure if they refused his advances. Many of the victims were EWS quota students , allegedly targeted because of their vulnerable position. Some stud...