New Delhi [India], January 28 : BJP MP in Rajya Sabha and Chairman of Bar Council of India, Manan Kumar Mishra, criticised the University Grants Commission's (UGC) new regulations to curb caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, stating that educational institutions will become "centres of controversy."
Speaking toon Tuesday, Manan Kumar Mishra stated that a complaint over a "petty fight" could spoil a student's life.
The Bar Council Chairman said, "It is not good to drag educational institutions into controversies. A controversy has been broiled which was not needed at all. There are strict laws against ragging. But what I suspect, and what people are not saying openly, is that after these regulations, educational institutions will become centres of controversy."
"The students might belong to any caste, they are there to study, and they have been given the scope that, be it anything, even if there is a petty fight, file a complaint and spoil someone's life. So, there was no need for this. I feel that this should be reviewed by the UGC. Government should also think about this," he added.
This came after new rules notified by the UGC on January 13, which update its 2012 regulations on the same subject, have sparked widespread criticism from general category students, who argue that the framework could lead to discrimination against them.
The new regulations, introduced to curb caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities, require institutions to establish special committees and helplines to address complaints, especially from SC, ST, and OBC students.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday sought to allay concerns over the new UGC regulations, assuring that the law would not be misused and that there would be no discrimination in its implementation.
Speaking to the reporters, Pradhan said, "I assure everyone there will be no discrimination and no one can misuse the law."
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