Appeal under the UGC Equity Regulations 2026:

Right to Appeal and Expert Assistance

9. Appeal:

1) A person aggrieved by the report of the Equity Committee may prefer an appeal before the Ombudsperson within 30 days from the date of receipt of such report. The ombudsperson may appoint an amicus curiae to facilitate the hearing of an appeal.

Regulation 9(1) provides for the Right to Appeal and Expert Assistance as follows:

If a person is unhappy with the findings or the report issued by the Equity Committee, he/she have the right to challenge it by filing an appeal. This appeal must be submitted to the Ombudsperson, an independent official who handles grievances, within 30 days of receiving the report. To ensure the case is handled fairly and with expert insight, the Ombudsperson has the power to appoint an “amicus curiae,” which is a legal term for a “friend of the court”, a neutral expert who assists in understanding the complexities of the case during the hearing.

Payment of Expert Fees

Regulation 9(2) provides for Payment of Expert Fees as follows:

(2) An amicus curiae appointed by the Ombudsperson shall be paid a reasonable fee by the HEI.

When an amicus curiae is appointed to help with the appeal process, they are entitled to a reasonable fee for their services. This section clarifies that the responsibility for paying this fee lies with the Higher Education Institution (HEI) itself. This ensures that the cost of expert legal assistance does not fall on the student or the person filing the appeal.

Timeline for Resolution

Regulation 9(3) provides for the Timeline for Resolution as follows:

(3) The Ombudsperson shall make all efforts to dispose of the appeal within a period of 30 days as per the University Grants Commission (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023, as amended from time to time.

The Ombudsperson is required to work quickly to settle the matter. The regulation mandates that every effort must be made to finish the appeal process and give a final decision within 30 days. This process must follow the standards already set by the University Grants Commission (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023. This ensures that the appeal is not dragged out and that students receive a timely resolution to their grievances.