New Delhi – Retired Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju has come out strongly against the University Grants Commission’s new rules on equity in colleges and universities. He called the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, a “camouflage” or cover-up for getting votes in elections, not a real way to stop discrimination. These rules, which started on January 13, 2026, are meant to end bias based on religion, race, caste, gender, place of birth, or disability in all higher education places across India. Katju said the main aim looks good on paper, but it’s really about winning votes from certain groups before state polls. “To my mind, this ostensible purpose is a mere camouflage, and a fraud on the youth of India, while the real purpose is to get votes in the coming elections,” he said in his statement. He wants people to think about building a united country instead of policies that split people.
Katju, who has always spoken against caste-based reservations, said these kinds of steps hurt groups like Dalits (Scheduled Castes) and OBCs (Other Backward Classes) more than they help. He pointed to his old writings in magazines like The Week and his blog, where he said all caste reservations should end to help real progress. “It is said that the Regulations of 2026 were necessary because there is still a lot of discrimination against Dalits, OBCs, etc., in higher education institutions,” Katju wrote. “It is true that there is a lot of casteism, communalism… in India which results in discrimination. But that is because India is still a semi-feudal country.” He thinks getting rid of deep biases needs big changes like more factories and jobs, like in China or America, not just new laws. This, he says, can only happen through a big people’s fight that brings everyone together, no matter their caste or religion. It might take 15-20 years and lead to a “people’s revolution” for a fair society. “It is wrong to think that caste and religious discrimination can be abolished by merely making laws and regulations,” he added.
Instead of fixing problems, Katju warned that these rules could make divisions worse on campuses. He thinks there will be more “false and motivated complaints,” like in a story he shared about a medical college where a teacher was forced to pass a failing Dalit student to avoid being called biased. This, he says, hurts merit and makes people angry at each other. He also called including OBCs – like Yadavs and Kurmis – in these rules “another fraud,” saying these groups are not backward anymore and reservations for them are just for politics. He shared a link to his article on Indica News called “OBC Reservation is Pure Fraud” to back his view. The talk around this has led to big debates on social media, with protests by upper-caste young people who see the rules as unfair to them. Protests have happened in many cities, showing more tension in schools and colleges. Katju made clear that he’s talking about if these rules are good for the country, not if they’re legal – that’s for the Supreme Court to decide, where some people have already filed cases against them. As India tries to balance fairness and togetherness in education, Katju’s words are adding to the heated talks, asking people to fight against leaders who divide the nation like in old British times. The UGC has not said anything back yet.
What Justice Katju Said in His Full Statement
Justice Markandey Katju, a former Supreme Court judge known for his bold opinions, put out a detailed statement on January 28, 2026, attacking the UGC’s new equity rules. He said the rules are not really about stopping discrimination but about playing politics. “Reservations can only benefit less than 0.1% SCs or OBCs, while creating an illusion that all are benefited,” he has said in past writings, and he links this to the new rules too. He thinks politicians use these things to get votes from Dalits and OBCs, but it doesn’t help most of them. In his view, real change comes from ending the old feudal ways in India, where caste still rules many minds. “90% of Indians are absolutely stupid. The stupid man has casteism in his skull,” he once said in an interview, showing how deep he thinks the problem is. He calls for a united fight against this, not more rules that divide. In this statement, he repeated his call to scrap all caste-based help, but give special aid to poor people from any caste. “All caste reservations should be scrapped. They are only used for vote bank politics,” he posted on social media before.
He gave examples from his time as a judge and PCI chairman, saying he’s seen how reservations make upper castes hostile and keep Dalits isolated. “Had it not been for these reservations, by now the dalits would have been far better off,” he wrote in a Facebook post. For the UGC rules, he said the new centres and committees will lead to fake complaints and pressure on teachers, hurting education quality. He mentioned a case where a professor had to bend rules, saying this undermines trust. Katju also hit out at OBC inclusion, calling it a trick since many OBC groups are strong now. “OBC reservation is pure fraud,” from his Indica article. He ended by saying India needs a revolution to build factories and jobs, not more laws that fool young people.
Details of the UGC’s 2026 Equity Regulations
The UGC brought out these rules on January 13, 2026, to make sure colleges and universities are fair places for everyone. They cover all kinds of higher education, like regular classes, online, or distance learning. The rules say every place must set up an Equal Opportunity Centre to help students from weak groups, like SC, ST, OBC, with advice, links to police or NGOs, and reports on who studies there and complaints. There’s also an Equity Committee, led by the head of the college, with teachers, staff, and people from outside, including half from reserved groups. This group has to meet fast – within 24 hours of a complaint – and give a report in 15 days, with action in 7 days. If not happy, you can go to an Ombudsperson.
Other things include Equity Squads to check campuses, Equity Ambassadors in each department, a 24-hour helpline for secret complaints, and programs to teach about no discrimination. Everyone has to sign a paper saying they won’t discriminate, and colleges must send reports to UGC every year. If a complaint is criminal, police get involved. If colleges don’t follow, they can lose money from UGC, stop new courses, or even lose their status. These rules build on old 2012 ones but make them stronger, adding OBC clearly and quicker steps. They came after Supreme Court pushes in cases like Rohith Vemula’s death, to stop caste problems on campus.
Why Katju Sees It as a Fraud and Vote Bank Trick
Katju has long said caste reservations are a big cheat. In his view, they help very few – “less than 0.1%” – but make everyone think they’re getting something. “SCs in India are about 25 crores, but reserved jobs for them would be only a few lakhs. So very few will get the benefit,” he explained in an Indica News piece. For these UGC rules, he says they’re the same – looking like help for Dalits and OBCs, but really for politicians to win elections. He thinks India is still backward because of old feudal ideas, and laws won’t change that. “Casteism in communalism… He is the real enemy,” he said in a YouTube talk. Reservations, he argues, keep the caste system alive instead of ending it. “The caste system is a curse for India and must be destroyed,” from his Facebook post, but he says reservations make it stronger by dividing people.
He points to how upper caste people feel angry when they lose seats or jobs to reservations, even if they score high. This makes hate grow. For OBCs, he says groups like Yadavs are not poor anymore, so including them is just politics. “I appeal to the SCs and OBCs to demand its end, as it is doing great harm to them,” he wrote recently. In the UGC context, he fears the new committees will be used for wrong complaints, scaring teachers and hurting studies. “It is just to bless you so that you can get votes,” he told Dalits in a video.
Warnings About Deepening Caste Divides on Campuses
Katju is worried these rules will split students and staff more. He thinks with no punishment for fake complaints, people will misuse them for personal fights. In his medical college story, a Dalit student failed but the teacher was told to pass him or face bias charges. “Such dynamics undermine merit and breed resentment,” he said. This could make upper caste people turn against reserved groups, making campuses tense. Protests are already happening, with young people from general categories saying it’s reverse discrimination. “The regulations could exacerbate divisions,” Katju warned, saying it goes against national unity. He calls it a “divide and rule” like British did, by politicians today. “We must be united to solve the country’s massive problems,” from his blog.
He thinks true equality needs big changes, like more industries to give jobs to all. Without that, rules like this will just make fights worse. “Only a mighty people’s struggle… culminating in a people’s revolution,” he said for a just order. Until then, such rules are harmful.
Background on Justice Katju’s Views on Caste and Reservations
Justice Katju has been against caste reservations for years. In 2020, he said he’d start a ‘Dalits against Reservation Association’ to convince Dalits to end them. “I am a Brahmin, but I will form a ‘Dalits against Reservation Association’,” he announced, but got backlash for being upper caste. People said, “You are Brahmin,” on social media. Still, he stuck to his views. In articles for Indica News and The Week, he called reservations a “political fraud.” “Today such reservations are doing great harm to the nation,” from his blog in 2015. He sympathizes with Dalits’ past suffering but says reservations keep them dependent. “Instead of waging a manly struggle for equality, dalits often keep crying for more reservations,” he wrote.
In talks, like on YouTube, he said India’s job problem is big, and reservations don’t fix it since government jobs are few. “If 100% of the jobs are also government jobs, there should be reservation for Dalits but still only one or 01%,” he explained. He wants economic-based help for all poor. His views have sparked debates, with some calling them anti-Dalit, but he says he’s for real progress.
Reactions from Different Groups and Experts
Many have reacted to Katju’s words. Upper caste groups and some young people agree, saying the rules are unfair. Protests in cities show this anger. But Dalit leaders and activists disagree. “Reservation is not just about jobs; it’s about representation, dignity,” said one writer in a response to Katju. Groups like Round Table India called his views wrong, saying reservations fight old injustices. “The concept of cause and effect,” they said, meaning caste bias caused the need for reservations.
Some lawyers want reservations in judiciary too, but Katju opposes that. UGC might defend the rules as needed for equity under NEP 2020. Politicians from parties like BJP or Congress have mixed views, but many see it as vote politics. A Youth Ki Awaaz piece said reservations should stay in professions to fix bias.
What This Means for Education and Society
Katju’s attack brings out big questions on how India handles caste in schools. If rules like this divide more, it could hurt learning and unity. But if discrimination is real, something is needed. The Supreme Court case might change things. India needs balance – help the weak without angering others. Katju’s call for revolution shows deep fixes are wanted. As elections near, this debate will grow.
FAQs
1. What did Justice Katju say about the UGC 2026 rules?
He called them a fraud on youth, a cover for vote banks, not real help against discrimination. He said they’re for elections, hurt merit, and deepen divides. Full statement links to his past views on ending reservations.
2. Why does Katju oppose caste reservations?
He thinks they help very few, keep caste alive, make upper castes hostile, and are vote tricks. “All caste reservations should be scrapped,” he said. Help poor of all castes instead.
3. What are the main parts of UGC’s equity rules?
Equal Opportunity Centres, Equity Committees with quick probes, squads, helplines, awareness, reports. Penalties for not following include no funding.
4. How does Katju say these rules will cause divides?
More fake complaints, pressure on teachers, resentment against reserved groups, campus fights. Like his professor story.
5. What is Katju’s idea for real change?
Big people’s fight for industries, jobs, end feudal ideas. Takes 15-20 years, revolution for fair society.
6. Has Katju said this before?
Yes, in blogs, Indica News, Facebook. Called OBC reservations fraud, started anti-reservation group for Dalits.
7. What do others say about his views?
Some agree it’s vote politics, others say reservations needed for dignity, representation. Backlash for being Brahmin talking for Dalits.
8. Is there a court case on these rules?
Yes, Supreme Court looking at legality. Katju talks about if they’re good for nation, not law.
9. How do protests link to this?
Upper caste youth protesting rules as biased, demos in cities after Katju’s words.
10. What should happen next, per Katju?
End caste rules, unite against dividers, build economy for all.