Legal Battle Over UGC Drafts Continues as Govt Gets 28 Days to File Counter

In a significant development on August 20, the Supreme Court allotted the Union government a four‑week period to lodge its counter‑affidavit in the ongoing UGC matter. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the centre, successfully secured the extension, which the bench endorsed. Following the hearing, advocate Satyam Pandey explained that the court also instructed other parties involved to submit their respective counter‑affidavits and written replies within the same deadline. Pandey raised objections to the maintainability of a 2019 PIL filed by Abida Salim Tadvi, stating that the petitioner’s personal involvement – as the mother of a woman alleged to have committed suicide over caste harassment – could affect the perception of pending trials in lower courts. He called for the dismissal of the petition on the basis of personal interest, reiterating the legal maxim that an individual cannot be deemed guilty without proof. The case will return to the apex court after the allotted period, with the centre expected to present its defense.