JNU, BHU and DU: How India's 3 legacy universities are reacting to UGC guidelines

The Supreme Court’s stay on the UGC Equity Regulations did not bring calm to university campuses. Instead, it triggered sharply different responses across India’s legacy universities.

In the torch-lit corridors of Jawaharlal Nehru University, students demanded the enactment of a central anti-discrimination law for higher education and full implementation of the UGC Equity Regulations, warning that justice delayed on campus could spill into the streets.

Meanwhile, at Banaras Hindu University, SC, ST, and OBC students marched with letters, placards, and citations of official reports, calling for an Equal Opportunity Centre, an Equity Committee, and transparent procedures to tackle discrimination.

At Delhi University, Left-backed student groups rallied for the stalled regulations to be enforced across all institutions, highlighting the urgent need to protect the rights of marginalised students.

Together, the responses from JNU, BHU and DU showed not just disagreement over a regulation, but a deeper divide in how India’s legacy universities view caste, equity and reform.

TORCHES AND SLOGANS AT JNU

Jawaharlal Nehru University students protested against the Supreme Court stay on the UGC Equity Regulations and demanded the immediate enactment of the Rohit Act and implementation of the UGC rules.

"Rohit Act" refers to the proposed legislation demanding a central anti-discrimination law in Indian higher education institutions, inspired by Rohith Vemula's 2016 suicide, aiming to prevent caste and identity-based discrimination against students.

Hundreds of left-leaning students, joined by the JNUSU president, took out a torchlight procession across the campus.

Starting from Barak Hostel, the march passed through key areas before ending at the main gate. Protesters carried placards and raised slogans against Brahmanism and Manusmriti.

They burned effigies and raised slogans like, "Brahmanwad Murdabad, Rohit k hatayaron ko ek dhakka aur do and Manuwad/Brahmanwad jalega (Down with Brahminism! One more push against Rohit's murderers, and Manusmriti/Brahminism will burn!)", while protesting.

JNUSU President Aditi Mishra and Former President JNUSU Nitish Kumar said that many cases remain pending in the Supreme Court for years, so what was the urgency in this case?

They warned that if the UGC Act was not implemented, the movement would not remain confined to the campus and would spill onto the streets.

JNUSU General Secretary Sunil Yadav told PTI while defending the protest slogans, “The slogans raised during the protest are ideological in nature and do not target any particular caste or group.”

BHU’S SUPPORT MARCH FOR EQUITY

A similar scene unfolded at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Varanasi when hundreds of students took to the streets of the BHU campus.

Hundreds of SC, ST, and OBC students, including a significant number of female students marched in support of the UGC Equity Regulations and against structural caste discrimination.

Ramji Patel, former student at BHU, said the SC/ST/OBC Unity Forum wanted the university to “immediately constitute an EOC and an Equity Committee, make information public on the website, organise sensitivity programmes, and send timely and transparent reports to the UGC.”

They gathered at the Vishwanath Temple complex and marched through the campus to the university gate.

A large police presence and the proctorial board remained on alert throughout.

Students distributed a letter alleging long-standing structural caste discrimination in higher education.

The letter stated that for decades, students, researchers, teachers, and employees from the SC, ST, and OBC categories have faced humiliation, exclusion, microaggressions, and mental harassment in processes such as admissions, evaluations, research, fellowships, hostels, appointments, and promotions.

The letter cited the Thorat Committee Report (2007) and the IIT Delhi study (2019), linking such discrimination to mental health issues, dropouts and suicides.

The university administration said it was monitoring the situation and maintaining peace.

DU JOINS THE PROTESTS

At Delhi University, Left-backed student groups protested against the Supreme Court stay on the UGC regulations and demanded their enforcement across all universities.

The All India Students’ Association led marches highlighting data showing a rise in caste-based discrimination complaints.

“We condemn the judicial stay and demand the Supreme Court uphold the constitutional rights of marginalised students,” said Sooraj Elamon, SFI Delhi President.

The group also called for the UGC regulations to be extended to all institutions.

TEACHERS RAISE DOUBTS

Even faculty voices were uneasy. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association said the UGC Equity regulations "fail to address the deep-rooted and systemic nature of discrimination in higher education institutions."

In a statement, the JNUTA added, "The JNUTA has not seen the order of the honourable court or the grounds for its order. The position stated is independent of this order and reflects the outcome of the discussion at yesterday's meeting."

The contrasts are revealing. At JNU, the protests are pitched as a defence of ideological space and immediate implementation of reform.

At BHU, the march is a demand for institutional safeguards and remedial architecture to protect marginalised students. In Delhi, the tone mixes solidarity with a legislative plea.

As protests continue, the debate around the UGC Equity Regulations has moved beyond legality. It now reflects a larger struggle over how universities understand equality, and who gets to define it.