The Uttar Pradesh government has suspended Bareilly city magistrate Alankar Agnihotri on charges of indiscipline after he resigned in protest against new UGC regulations and alleged bias against the Brahmin community. He also condemned the reported manhandling of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati.
Alankar Agnihotri, a Provincial Civil Service (PCS) officer posted as Bareilly city magistrate, resigned on Monday in protest against the new University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations notified on January 13, 2026. These rules aim to eliminate discrimination in higher education based on caste, religion, gender, and other factors by mandating Equal Opportunity Centres and Equity Committees in institutions. Agnihotri alleged the regulations would harass general category students and claimed an anti-Brahmin campaign was underway in the Uttar Pradesh government, citing the manhandling of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati during the Magh Mela row.
In an interview, he stated, 'It was not a sudden decision... The UGC regulations and the treatment towards Swami ji cannot be tolerated.' On Tuesday, he staged a dramatic protest at the Bareilly collectorate, accusing the district administration of harassment and caste-based abuse. The government suspended him for 'indiscipline' and violating Uttar Pradesh Government Servant (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1999, attaching him to the Shamli Collectorate and ordering a probe by the divisional commissioner.
Agnihotri has written to Governor Anandiben Patel and plans to approach the Prime Minister and President, demanding a Special Investigative Team to probe bias against the Brahmin community. Swami Avimukteshwaranand offered support, inviting him to join the fight for 'Sanatan Dharma.' Meanwhile, another officer, Prashant Kumar Singh in Ayodhya, resigned in support of the government against the Swami's remarks.
The incident has sparked political debate ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. Critics of the UGC rules argue they exclude general category students from protection and removed provisions against false complaints, while the education ministry clarifies that 'aggrieved person' includes everyone and the clause was dropped to encourage reporting.
