The Karnataka Cabinet has given its nod to the Rohit Vemula (Prevention of Discrimination, Exclusion, or Injustice) (Right to Education and Dignity) Bill, 2026, to guard Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students from discrimination and harassment in higher educational institutions, according to media reports. The bill acts as a deterrent against any sort of discrimination against SC and ST students by teachers, staff, or fellow students.
Once effective, the bill will apply to all public, private, and deemed universities across the state. Several reports suggest that the legislation will likely be tabled in the Monsoon Session of the Karnataka state legislature later this year.
“The original form of the Bill required some tweaks. Changes were made, and the Bill is now cleared by the Cabinet,” HK Patil, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, said in the report.
When the bill becomes legally binding, higher educational institutions will be required to set up an ‘Equity Committee,’ headed by a member from the SC or ST community, to listen to and address complaints submitted by students.
Following the complaint submission, the committee will investigate the issue and submit a detailed report to the college administration.
According to the prescribed rules, the accused may end up paying a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh and may be denied public grants. Notably, the punishment will be decided based on the nature, frequency, severity, and pervasiveness of the harassment, along with the physical injury or mental trauma caused to the victim, the report stated. In addition to disciplining the accused, victims will be offered compensation.
UGC’s Equity Regulations 2026 Under Judicial Review
In January, the University Grants Commission adopted a similar practice by introducing the Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, aiming to deter discrimination against SC, ST, OBC, and other disadvantaged communities. Welcomed by a few, the bill later faced massive backlash for its lack of a safety mechanism against hoax complaints and for allegedly favouring certain sections of society while avoiding others.
When the issue escalated, the Supreme Court stepped in and announced an interim halt on the regulations. The regulations are currently under judicial review, with its fate depending on court’s verdict. read more…