We'll go by the book, say IITs, IIMs

THE QUOTA QUESTION

Uncertainty looms as the institutes say they'll read the SC order before deciding the course of action.

Even though most IIMs and IITs have put their seat increase plans on hold following the Supreme Court stay on reservations for other backward classes (OBCs), IIM-Ahmedabad has said that it will continue with the admission process until it receives a directive from the Human Resource Development Ministry.

"We are still awaiting a communication from the ministry. The CAT group, which comprises chairpersons of the admission committees of all six IIMs, will look into the implementation. On our part, we plan to release the list of successful candidates on April 12," said Bakul Dholakia, director, IIM-A.

There is an undercurrent of worry that the admission process may be stalled. IIM-Calcutta had earlier decided to implement the quotas over three years.

Anindya Sen, the dean of programme initiatives at IIM-Calcutta said, "This will add to the uncertainty. We were in the process of short-listing candidates, though offer letters have not been issued. I hope the stay does not stall the admission process. We will wait for the government's response on the matter."

While the next court hearing is on August 3, IIM-A's post graduate programme (PGP) is to commence by July, which indicates that any directive the institute receives in the immediate future will decide if reservation will be implemented from this academic year. IIM-A's board meeting on March 31 is scheduled to discuss the issue of quotas and fee structure.

The institute had decided on a 12 per cent hike in the student intake for the PGP""from last year's 250 seats to around 280 seats. Dholakia said the institute had received 850-900 applications this year, of which 55 students from the OBC category had been called for the interview round. OCBs will get 17 seats after reservation.

Devi Singh, director, IIM-Lucknow, said he could not comment on the court verdict until he had seen what it said. "We have to look into the implications of the order. The board of directors will sit together and decide what is to be done next. I don't want to say anything as of now," he said.

IIM-Indore had plans to expand the number of seats in its PGP programme from 180 to 195 in 2007-08. "This year we were looking to add 15 more seats, seven for the general category and eight for the OBCs. We want to see the government order before going ahead with the increase in the number of seats for the OBCs," said SP Parashar, director, IIM-I.

IIT-Kharagpur had planned to implement the OBC quotas over the next three years"" 9 per cent in 2007, 18 per cent in 2008, and 27 per cent in 2009. It had 895 seats last year. "IIT-Kharagpur is prepared to implement the government order on reservation. But after the Supreme Court stay, we are waiting to see the order to go ahead with the expansion," Professor Madhusudan Chakraborty of IIT-Kharagpur, said.

Surendra Prasad, director, IIT-Delhi, said, "We already have some major plans for expansion. Even if the quota process is stalled, we will like to carry on with the general expansion as the institute is short of several facilities."

IIM-Bangalore refused to comment on the Supreme Court order till tomorrow, when its director, Prakash Apte, returns from Delhi. Apte refused to comment.

The institute had announced that it would increase the student intake to 270 from last year's 250. It was to reserve 7 per cent seats for the OBCs this year.

IIM-B said the SC ruling would not affect them much as they did not have any plan to hire faculty or set up additional infrastructure this year.