Bareilly City Magistrate Alankar Agnihotri Resigns Over Disagreement with New UGC Policies

Bareilly, India – Alankar Agnihotri, the City Magistrate of Bareilly, submitted his resignation from service on Monday, January 26, 2026, citing profound disagreement with prevailing government policies, most notably the recently introduced regulations by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The 2019-batch Provincial Civil Service (PCS) officer described the new UGC rules as a 'black law' and expressed concerns that they could foster caste-based discontent and negatively impact the academic atmosphere.

Reasons for Resignation and Subsequent Suspension

Mr. Agnihotri's resignation, which was emailed to Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Bareilly District Magistrate Avinash Singh, highlighted his belief that the policies were dividing society and eroding constitutional and democratic values. Beyond the UGC regulations, he also referenced an alleged 'anti-Brahmin campaign' in Uttar Pradesh and an incident concerning Swami Avimukteshwaranand at the recent Magh Mela in Prayagraj. Following his public announcement, the Uttar Pradesh government suspended Mr. Agnihotri on charges of indiscipline. An official order stated that he was found prima facie guilty of indiscipline based on a report from the Bareilly district magistrate. He has since been attached to the office of the Shamli district magistrate, and a departmental inquiry has been initiated against him. On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, Mr. Agnihotri staged a protest outside the District Collectorate office in Bareilly, alleging a well-planned conspiracy against him.

The Controversial UGC Regulations

The new regulations at the heart of the controversy are the University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026, which were notified on January 13, 2026. These rules aim to curb caste-based discrimination in higher educational institutions across India. Key provisions of these regulations include:

• Mandating the establishment of Equal Opportunity Centres (EOCs) in every higher education institution.
• Requiring the formation of Equity Committees within these EOCs, with representation from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), women, and persons with disabilities.
• Establishing helplines and monitoring teams to address complaints, particularly from SC, ST, and OBC students.

While the UGC states these measures are essential for creating equitable learning environments and upholding social justice, critics, including Mr. Agnihotri, argue that the framework could lead to 'reverse discrimination' or 'harassment' of general category students. The inclusion of OBCs in these regulations, which was not part of previous guidelines, has also contributed to the controversy.

Background of Alankar Agnihotri

Alankar Agnihotri is a 2019-batch Provincial Civil Service officer. He is an alumnus of IIT BHU and previously worked in the IT sector for 10 years as a consultant before joining civil services. He has served in various capacities, including SDM in Lucknow, Unnao, and Balrampur, and as Assistant Municipal Commissioner, Lucknow, prior to his posting as Bareilly City Magistrate.