Reservation stay puts IIMs in soup

The Supreme Court's decision to stay OBC quotas for this year has put IIMs in a soup. The institutes had almost completed the process of admitting backward class students and are uncertain now. Expansion plans for post graduate courses in IIMs are on hold. Senior officials at IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta say they will have to wait for the government directive on this, as they cannot go against the wishes of the Supreme Court.

"We are waiting for the HRD Ministry to tell us what we have to do" said Bakul Dholakia, Director, IIM Ahmedabad.

All the IIMs had announced seat increases from this year to accommodate OBC quotas. IIM Ahmedabad alone had called 55 students for interviews. Three IIMs -Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta have already completed their admission interviews and group discussions.

The institutes however say that the admission deadlines will not be affected by the decision and the results of all the IIMs will be announced on April 12. The admission-in-charges of the various institutes are likely to meet soon to decide on their next move.