The Crossbill Team
Fresh data placed before Parliament and the Supreme Court has revealed a sharp rise in complaints of caste-based discrimination in India’s higher education institutions over the past five years.
Figures submitted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) show that reported cases in universities and colleges have increased by 118.4%, climbing from 173 in 2019–20 to 378 in 2023–24.
According to the data, between 2019–20 and 2023–24 the UGC received a total of 1,160 complaints through Equal Opportunity Cells (EOCs) and Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) Cells functioning in 704 universities and 1,553 colleges across the country. Of these, 1,052 cases were shown as resolved, translating into a disposal rate of 90.68%. At the same time, pending complaints rose significantly, from 18 cases in 2019–20 to 108 in 2023–24.
Year-wise details shared with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports indicate a steady upward trend in reported incidents. Complaints stood at 182 in 2020–21, rose marginally to 186 in 2021–22, increased to 241 in 2022–23, and then saw a sharp jump in 2023–24.
A senior UGC official, quoted by Hindustan Times, attributed the rise in complaints to greater awareness among students about the role of SC/ST Cells and Equal Opportunity Cells, adding that these bodies were resolving cases proactively. However, several academics expressed doubts over the high resolution rate reflected in the data.
Professor N. Sukumar of Delhi University told the newspaper that most SC/ST Cells operate under administrative control and lack real decision-making authority, as their members are nominated by university administrations.
He said this compromises impartiality, particularly in serious cases. Similar concerns were voiced by D.K. Loboiyal, a faculty member at Jawaharlal Nehru University and a former member of an SC/ST Cell, who argued that the autonomy of such bodies has steadily weakened. He added that the rise in complaints could point both to better reporting and to the persistence of discrimination on campuses.
Former UGC chairperson Sukhadeo Thorat said Equal Opportunity Cells were established under the UGC’s Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2012, while SC/ST Cells, which predate them, were originally intended to deal mainly with service and employment-related issues.
“Problems arise when institutions blur this distinction and route all complaints through internal mechanisms,” he said.
The data was compiled following a Supreme Court directive issued in January 2025, which asked the UGC to collate information on caste discrimination complaints under the 2012 regulations.
The direction came in connection with a petition filed in the aftermath of the death of PhD scholar Rohith Vemula at the University of Hyderabad, seeking accountability and stronger safeguards against caste-based discrimination in universities.
In an affidavit filed in February 2025, the UGC told the apex court that it had received responses from 3,522 higher education institutions. That exercise showed the presence of 3,067 Equal Opportunity Cells and 3,273 SC/ST Cells, which together had received 1,503 complaints, of which 1,426 were reported as resolved.
The UGC’s draft equity regulations submitted to the Supreme Court last year had drawn criticism from several quarters, including Rohith Vemula’s mother, one of the petitioners in the case, for allegedly diluting existing safeguards.
Last week, the UGC notified revised draft regulations, addressing some of the concerns raised, and called on higher education institutions to establish equity committees and equal opportunity centres, along with 24/7 helplines and online complaint mechanisms.
Figures submitted by the University Grants Commission (UGC) show that reported cases in universities and colleges have increased by 118.4%, climbing from 173 in 2019–20 to 378 in 2023–24.
According to the data, between 2019–20 and 2023–24 the UGC received a total of 1,160 complaints through Equal Opportunity Cells (EOCs) and Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) Cells functioning in 704 universities and 1,553 colleges across the country. Of these, 1,052 cases were shown as resolved, translating into a disposal rate of 90.68%. At the same time, pending complaints rose significantly, from 18 cases in 2019–20 to 108 in 2023–24.
Year-wise details shared with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports indicate a steady upward trend in reported incidents. Complaints stood at 182 in 2020–21, rose marginally to 186 in 2021–22, increased to 241 in 2022–23, and then saw a sharp jump in 2023–24.
A senior UGC official, quoted by Hindustan Times, attributed the rise in complaints to greater awareness among students about the role of SC/ST Cells and Equal Opportunity Cells, adding that these bodies were resolving cases proactively. However, several academics expressed doubts over the high resolution rate reflected in the data.
Professor N. Sukumar of Delhi University told the newspaper that most SC/ST Cells operate under administrative control and lack real decision-making authority, as their members are nominated by university administrations.
He said this compromises impartiality, particularly in serious cases. Similar concerns were voiced by D.K. Loboiyal, a faculty member at Jawaharlal Nehru University and a former member of an SC/ST Cell, who argued that the autonomy of such bodies has steadily weakened. He added that the rise in complaints could point both to better reporting and to the persistence of discrimination on campuses.
Former UGC chairperson Sukhadeo Thorat said Equal Opportunity Cells were established under the UGC’s Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2012, while SC/ST Cells, which predate them, were originally intended to deal mainly with service and employment-related issues.
“Problems arise when institutions blur this distinction and route all complaints through internal mechanisms,” he said.
The data was compiled following a Supreme Court directive issued in January 2025, which asked the UGC to collate information on caste discrimination complaints under the 2012 regulations.
The direction came in connection with a petition filed in the aftermath of the death of PhD scholar Rohith Vemula at the University of Hyderabad, seeking accountability and stronger safeguards against caste-based discrimination in universities.
In an affidavit filed in February 2025, the UGC told the apex court that it had received responses from 3,522 higher education institutions. That exercise showed the presence of 3,067 Equal Opportunity Cells and 3,273 SC/ST Cells, which together had received 1,503 complaints, of which 1,426 were reported as resolved.
The UGC’s draft equity regulations submitted to the Supreme Court last year had drawn criticism from several quarters, including Rohith Vemula’s mother, one of the petitioners in the case, for allegedly diluting existing safeguards.
Last week, the UGC notified revised draft regulations, addressing some of the concerns raised, and called on higher education institutions to establish equity committees and equal opportunity centres, along with 24/7 helplines and online complaint mechanisms.
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