On 13th March, the Supreme Court dismissed a plea challenging a circular issued by the Madhya Pradesh government to implement the draconian University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations on caste discrimination in educational institutions.
The apex court bench led by CJI Surya Kant engaged the petitioners, Sarthak Bhagat and Ajeet Bharti’s lawyer on their specific challenges. The court, while referring to the stay order issued in February, refused to hear petitions challenging the 2023 and 2026 UGC guidelines together.
Adv: may it pls be tagged along with other matters
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) March 13, 2026
CJI: you confine to 2026 and if you challenge 2023, they make a seperate plea
Adv: we are challenging both mylords
CJI: we are not inclined to entertain, the same shall be dismissed…
“If the 2026 regulation has been stayed by this court, if caste-based discrimination happens, where will they go? If it’s a 2023 regulation, why didn’t you challenge it earlier? You confine to 2023 regulations, and if you want to challenge the 2023 rules, then make a separate plea,” the CJI stated.
Supreme Court refuses to entertain petitions challenging the 2023 and 2026 UGC guidelines together.
— The Analyzer (News Updates🗞️) (@Indian_Analyzer) March 13, 2026
-> The bench said the matters cannot be CLUBBED & asked petitioners to file separate petitions if they want the court to examine the issues.
pic.twitter.com/j5ymsh95PZ
When the petitioner’s counsel said that they want to challenge both the regulations, the court said, “We are not inclined to entertain, the same shall be dismissed with liberty to file separate petitions with respect to the 2023 Regulation and since we have not expressed any formal opinion, this order does not mean that the petitions to be filed by the petitioner shall necessarily be entertained.”
Taking to X, YouTuber and journalist, Ajeet Bharti said, “We had filed a case in the Supreme Court regarding the UGC regulations. @shashank_ssj was representing our side. The court, while referring to the stay order issued in February, refused to discuss it further. However, a crucial part of our petition pertained to restraining the Madhya Pradesh government from implementing the 2023 UGC regulations. The court has directed us to file a separate petition on this matter.”
हमने सुप्रीम कोर्ट में यूजीसी नियमावली पर केस फाइल किया था। @shashank_ssj हमारा पक्ष रख रहे थे। कोर्ट ने फरवरी में दिए स्टे की बात करते हुए, उस पर चर्चा से मना कर दिया।
— Ajeet Bharti (@ajeetbharti) March 13, 2026
हालाँकि, हमारी याचिका का एक महत्वपूर्ण हिस्सा मध्य प्रदेश सरकार द्वारा 2023 की यूजीसी नियमावली को लागू करने…
Sharing the update in the matter, petitioner Sarthak Bhagat stated on X that he, along with Bharti, is going to file a separate plea challenging the 2023 UGC regulations
We moved SC challenging the UGC guidelines through my lawyer and my big brother @shashank_ssj
— Sarthak Bhagat (@sarthakbhagat45) March 13, 2026
UPDATE: Since the Supreme Court has stayed the 2026 UGC guidelines, it has refused to entertain our petition on that aspect. However, it has permitted us to file a separate plea… https://t.co/gDpQan4kXJ
“Since the Supreme Court has stayed the 2026 UGC guidelines, it has refused to entertain our petition on that aspect. However, it has permitted us to file a separate plea challenging the 2023 UGC regulations now implemented by the Madhya Pradesh government. So, @ajeetbharti Ji and I are going to file a separate plea challenging the 2023 regulations,” Bhagat wrote.
