While keeping at abeyance, the “non-inclusionary” definition of caste-based discrimination that excluded general categories from institutional protection under rule 3(1)(c), the bench revived the UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012. Meanwhile let the UGC Regulations 2026 shall remain in abeyance,” it said. The 2026 regulations triggered protests at various places, with student groups and organisations demanding its immediate rollback. The CJI suggested that the matter be revisited by a committee comprising eminent jurists and experts familiar with social realities. At the outset, the bench flagged concerns with the 2026 regulations and questioned the need for a separate definition of “caste-based discrimination” under regulation 3(1)(c), when regulation 3(1)(e) already provides a broad definition of “discrimination”.