Jammu, Sep 10, KNT: BJP Member of Parliament from Jammu Jugal Kishore Sharma on Thursday said he was hopeful that the Supreme Court would take a decision in the interest of students on the controversy surrounding the University Grants Commission (UGC) Equity Regulations.

Talking to reporters in Jammu, Jugal Kishore said the regulations did not discriminate, but added that whatever was in the interest of students, the Supreme Court would take a decision accordingly.

“I am hopeful that the Supreme Court will take a decision in the interest of students,” he said.

Asked about the UGC regulations and the ongoing demand for their rollback, the BJP MP said he did not know why the Centre had brought the law.

The remarks came amid an ongoing controversy over the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2026, which were notified earlier this year to address discrimination in higher educational institutions.

The Supreme Court had on January 29 directed that the 2026 regulations be kept in abeyance and ordered that the earlier 2012 regulations would continue until further orders. The Centre subsequently told the Supreme Court in August that the 2026 regulations were under reconsideration.

The issue has also triggered protests and demands for rollback from sections of the non-reserved categories, while groups representing reserved categories have opposed any rollback.

In Jammu, the Yuva Rajput Sabha has announced an agitation over the UGC issue and reservation, beginning from Lakhanpur in Kathua and culminating in Jammu on September 14. [KNT]

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