During a student union protest at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), some protesters threw stones at Delhi Police, biting them, and throwing shoes at them. Police said several policemen were injured. Police subsequently detained several people. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Student Union (JNUSU) was marching to demand the implementation of the UGC regulations. The march was scheduled to proceed to the Ministry of Education, but the police stopped it midway. Police allege that some protesters attacked them after the march was stopped. The university also issued a statement. JNU stated that this demand violates the Honorable Supreme Court order that had issued a stay on the regulations. The JNU Vice Chancellor or Registrar has no authority over the regulations. Three photos of the attack on the police… The Student Union President, former President, and others detained. Police stated that when the protesters attempted to leave the campus, students clashed with the police at the college gate. He said JNUSU President Aditi Mishra, former President Nitish Kumar, and several others were detained. Police said students had called for a long march from the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus to the Ministry of Education. The march was part of ongoing protests against the university’s Vice Chancellor’s recent statements on a podcast regarding the implementation of UGC regulations, the expulsion of JNUSU officials, and the proposed Rohith Act. Protesters allege that police took some people to unconfirmed locations. Protesters have alleged that excessive force was used against them, that several students were injured in the clashes, and that the police took some of them to unconfirmed locations. According to the police, the JNU administration had informed the protesting students that no protests outside the campus were permitted. Despite this, around 400-500 students gathered on campus and began the protest march. Police said that at around 3:20 pm, protesters exited the main gate and tried to proceed towards the Ministry. A senior police officer said, “As the situation worsened, barricades outside the campus were broken. Protesters threw banners and sticks, hurled shoes, and engaged in physical violence. During the scuffle, some policemen were bitten, injuring several officers deployed at the scene.” JNU stated, “Our government is accountable.” In a post on social media, JNU stated that JNU is a public university and therefore accountable to the government, Parliament, and Indian taxpayers. “It is very bad that a female OBC Vice Chancellor is being attacked on false charges, only to divert attention from the issue of violence and vandalism of public property.” Teachers’ Association Condemns Police Action The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) condemned the police action. The association alleged that several students, including women, were injured. JNU also alleged that the police action was intended to prevent students from exercising their democratic right to march. The association demanded the immediate release of all detained students. First, understand the entire matter. The UGC’s new law is called the “Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026.” Under this, several directives were issued to prevent caste-based discrimination against SC, ST, and OBC students in colleges and universities. Under the new regulations, colleges and universities were directed to establish special committees, helplines, and monitoring teams. These teams will address complaints from SC, ST, and OBC students. The government states that these changes have been made to bring fairness and accountability to higher education institutions. However, upper caste students allege that the UGC has adopted an inclusive definition of caste-based discrimination and that this will create chaos in colleges. Upper caste students allege that the new regulations have made upper caste students “natural offenders” and that this will encourage discrimination against them. January 30: Supreme Court stays new UGC regulations On January 30, the Supreme Court stayed the new regulations of the University Grants Commission (UGC) until further orders. A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya stated that its provisions are unclear and could be misused. The court made this comment in response to petitions filed by Mrityunjay Tiwari, Advocate Vineet Jindal, and Rahul Dewan, alleging that the new rules discriminate against general category students. The UGC notified its new rules on January 13th. The Supreme Court issued notices to the Central and UGC, seeking their responses. It also directed them to redraft the rules. The court stated that the next hearing in the matter will now be held on March 19th. The Supreme Court stated that the 2012 UGC rules will remain in effect nationwide for now. ———— Read this news also… SC bans NCERT book on ‘Corruption in Judiciary’: Said – Withdraw hard copies, delete digital copies The Supreme Court on Thursday banned the NCERT’s Class 8 Social Science book containing the chapter on ‘Corruption in Judiciary’. Chief Justice Surya Kant ordered that the books already printed be confiscated and that digital copies be removed as well. Read the full story…
