In a letter to vice-chancellors of varsities and colleges across the country, University Grants Commission Secretary Jaspal S Sandhu asked that educational institutions create a special page on their website for complaints regarding discrimination against Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribe students. PTI reported that the letter asked for a separate complaints book to be placed in each registrar or principal’s office as well.

The move comes after the suicide of Dalit PhD scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad Central University in January. Vemula committed suicide after he and four other of his peers were allegedly discriminated against. They were accused of attacking a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

The UGC added that faculty and university officials must not discriminate against these students, and action should be taken against those who do. It also asked varsities to submit an "action taken" report on steps for preventing such discrimination.