UGC chairman to hold interactive session on students grievance redressal today

NEW DELHI: Soon after its launch, the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman will discuss the new (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023, with stakeholders on Tuesday. The online interaction will be at 3.30 PM on multiple platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and UGC’s official YouTube channel.

The new regulations provide for the establishment of student grievances redressal committees or SGRC by all the higher education institutions and for the appointment of ombudsperson at the university level.

“Higher Education institutions are requested to comply with the provisions of the Regulations and constitute the SGRC, preferably within 30 days of the notification of the Regulations. The Universities are requested to appoint the Ombudsperson(s), as provided in the Regulations, at the earliest, preferably within 30 days of the notification of the Regulations,” a UGC official letter stated.

All UGC recognised institutions, as per the new rules, are required to set up a dedicated portal within July 11 where an aggrieved student can submit formal complaints. Non-compliance of the regulations may invite punishment, including cancellation of the recognition of the institution.

Like the 2019 regulations, the UGC’s new rules cover complaints of alleged discrimination of students belonging to the historically marginalised Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe or Other Backward Caste category,minorities, persons with disabilities categories or women. To ensure this, at least one member of the student's grievances redressal committee or its chairperson shall be a woman and at least one member or the chairperson shall be from the marginalised caste.

The new regulations have come into force after several incidents of caste-based discrimination have surfaced across campuses. The death by suicide of Indian Insitute of Technology (IIT) Bombay student Darshan Solanki, who belonged to a Dalit community, has brought forth the dire need for mechanisms to address caste issues within campuses of even elite institutions in India.