UGC Regulations Row: Bareilly Magistrate Quits, Citing Opposition to New Rules

Bareilly city magistrate Alankar Agnihotri resigned from his post on Monday, citing opposition to the University Grants Commission's (UGC) newly notified Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026.

Agnihotri's resignation comes amid an ongoing debate over the new UGC framework, which aims to curb caste-based discrimination in colleges and universities across the country. The regulations mandate the establishment of Equal Opportunity Centres, Equity Committees, grievance redressal mechanisms and helplines in all higher education institutions to address complaints related to discrimination and promote inclusion on campuses.

The rules place special emphasis on protecting students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC). They also require representation from these communities in committees responsible for handling complaints and monitoring equity-related initiatives.

However, the regulations have triggered protests from students belonging to forward communities, who argue that the framework could lead to bias and unfair categorisation within educational institutions. Agnihotri cited his disagreement with the regulations as the reason for stepping down from his administrative position.

A day after Agnihotri's resignation, Ayodhya GST deputy commissioner Prashant Singh also tendered his resignation on Tuesday. In his resignation letter, Singh said remarks made by religious leader Avimukteshwaranand against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had deeply hurt his sentiments.

Singh described his resignation as an act of "rajkiya dharma" (political duty), stating that, as a government employee, he felt it was his responsibility to protest what he termed as insults directed at the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister and the state government.

Both resignations have drawn attention amid ongoing political and social debates surrounding education policy, governance and public discourse in Uttar Pradesh.