Hundreds of students of Delhi University (DU) took out a march in the North Campus on Tuesday, February 3, demanding immediate implementation of the UGC Equality Rules 2026. This protest named ‘Equity March’ was organized by various student organizations including All India Students Association (AISA).
Holding placards and raising slogans, the students said that the long-pending effort to tackle caste-based discrimination in higher education has failed due to the recent court stay on these rules.
This demand of the protesters
The protesters said the parity rules are not just procedural guidelines, but an important measure to ensure accountability and protection for SC, ST and OBC students, which should be implemented in the spirit of the ‘Rohit Act’.
‘Rohit Act’ refers to the proposed Rohit Vemula Act, which seeks to enact a central law to prevent caste/identity-based discrimination against students in Indian higher education. This law is named after Hyderabad University student Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide in 2016 allegedly due to caste discrimination.
‘The weaker section will feel insecure’
Students said these rules are the result of years of agitation on university campuses across the country. He alleged that due to restrictions on rules, students from weaker sections will once again feel unsafe in universities.
Addressing the gathering, former JNUSU president Nitish said, “After years of sacrifice and struggle on the streets, we forced the University Grants Commission (UGC) to come up with rules to ensure accountability. The stay on these guidelines clearly shows that casteism is still deeply rooted at the highest levels in our institutions. We will not rest until real equality is achieved.”